Reminiscent of those dreadful British school-dinner curries of the 80s and akin to the sort of curry sauce that is poured over chips in the UK or currywurst in Germany, at first glance Japanese curry is mild, bland and, to some at least, inoffensive to the point of being offensive. That may all seem a tad harsh, but the comparison is far from unjustified, especially when you consider that curry was first introduced to Japan by the British (of all people) in the early 1900s! With that in mind however, it is all too easy to be unduly disparaging about Japanese curry and you shouldn’t, as it is actually quite delicious.

Generally speaking, in Japan karē is served as a sauce (sōsu) rather than a curry made with meat, so you are unlikely to find a chicken or beef curry per se. You are of course welcome to add some meat to the curry sauce as it cooks, but I prefer to pour it over a crisp crumbed cutlet (tonkatsu/chikenkatsu) or add it to a pile of gyūdon. Typically eaten with rice or udon noodles, karē is so popular it is considered one of Japan’s national dishes and is readily available throughout the country, both at specialist restaurants or as an option on menus at most gyūdon or noodle joints.

What sets karē apart from other curries is the fact that it is made with a roux, which enriches and thickens sauce. There are a wide range of Japanese curry/roux cubes available at most Asian supermarkets and these are well worth the expense as they are really the only specialist ingredient in the karē sōsu. Alternatively, you can use Japanese curry powder instead. If, however, neither of these are available you can just use a mild curry powder, but the flavour won’t be as authentic.

For more Japanese recipes, please click HERE or to find out more about how to stock a Japanese Pantry, please click HERE

Karē (Japanese Curry Sauce): Serves 4

• 30g butter
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tsp. grated ginger
• 2 tbsp. plain flour
• 1 tbsp. curry powder (or 2-3 blocks of Japanese Curry Cubes)
• 1l hot stock (chicken or beef)
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut on the diagonal
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 4cm chunks
• 1 green apple, peeled and grated

Method:

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan
2. Add the onions and gently sauté for a couple for minutes
3. Add the ginger and garlic, continue sautéing for another minute
4. Tip in the flour and curry powder (if using) and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often
5. If using, dissolve the curry cubes in the hot stock
6. Gradually add the stock to the saucepan, whisking continuously
7. Add the potatoes, carrots and grated apple
8. Simmer for 45 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender
9. Stir the pot frequently as the sauce will catch on the bottom of the saucepan