Japanese Curry Sauce

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You need to try this Japanese Curry Sauce that is perfect over rice or noodles. This recipe is so versatile, you can add your favorite vegetables and meat (chicken or beef) inside and you’ll have a great 30 minute weeknight meal!

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What is Japanese curry?
Ingredients
Substitutions and Variations
How to Make Curry Sauce
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
Check Out More Japanese Recipes
The Most Delicious Japanese Curry Sauce
Expert Tips

What is Japanese curry?

Japanese curry is one of my absolute favorite comfort foods—it’s rich, flavorful, and so satisfying. Unlike Indian or Thai curries, Japanese curry has a milder, slightly sweet taste with a thick and velvety texture that’s just perfect over rice. In this version, I show some tips of how to make your curry more flavorful and dynamic (like adding apple!) It’s made with a roux that’s packed with spices, plus your choice of protein (I love using chicken or beef!). Serve over rice and Chicken Karaage.

Ingredients

Here’s a look at what you need to make this curry sauce. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card. There may be more ingredients used in this Curry Sauce compared to others. However, most of the ingredients should be found in your pantry already ◡̈

Curry roux, apple, onion, carrots, espresso, water, curry powder, butter, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, chicken bouillon, and miso paste on a table.

onion – sliced white onion makes the curry sweet.
apple – adds a slightly sweet and tangy flavor to the curry.
carrots – carrots are a classic vegetable in curry for it’s mild sweet flavor.
ketchup – adds a tangy flavor that contrasts well with the spices. If you want a more sour and refreshing taste, you can use tomato paste.
Worcestershire sauce(optional) – a few drops adds a sour taste that contrasts well with the curry cube and apple. The combination of these flavors will make a super delicious curry!
espresso shot or coffee (optional) – adds a smokier and deeper flavor to the curry! If you have an espresso machine like me, you can do a double shot. If you have a coffee machine, you can do ¼ cup of coffee.
curry block – I’m using the brand, S&B curry (in medium hot). These curry cubes are full of spices and help make a nice roux for the sauce.
miso paste – this is my secret ingredient to add savoriness and umami to the curry. You can omit it if you don’t have this ingredient but it makes for such a delicious hidden flavor!

Substitutions and Variations

Protein – add your protein of choice like chicken breast, chicken thigh, and sliced beef. I recommend to cook the meat on the side and adding the cooked meat when you’re making the roux.
Vegetables – potatoes (not too many because the sauce will be very thick from the starch), zucchini, eggplant, green beans would taste delicious in the Japanese curry. I recommend to cook these vegetables separately and add it in the roux (end of cooking).
Instead of espresso, you can use instant coffee (the one without the sugar). The coffee adds a depth of flavor (not bitter at all), but it is not required to add.

How to Make Curry Sauce

Step 1. Slice onions. Peel carrots and apple. Then slice the apples in cubes.

Sliced onions, sliced carrots, and chopped apple in a pot.

Step 2. Heat pot on medium. When the pot gets hot, add oil. Then, add onions, carrots, apple and salt. Mix together and fry for 5 minutes.

Step 3. Next, add ketchup and Worcestershire sauce (optional) and sauté for 1 minute.

Sliced onions, sliced carrots, and chopped apple in a pot with water and seasonings.

Step 4. Then, add water, espresso shot (or coffee), curry powder (optional), and chicken bouillon (optional).

Sliced onions, sliced carrots, and chopped apple in a boiling pot with water and seasonings.

Step 5. Mix together and boil for 15 minutes until carrots are soft (covered).

Blending sliced onions, carrots, and chopped apples boiled with water and seasonings.

Step 6. Use an immersion blender to blend everything together. Or place all contents in a blender and blend until sauce is smooth. If you want the sauce to be extra smooth, you can put it through a sieve.

Curry roux added to the blended mixture.

Step 7. On medium heat (in the same pot), add a block of curry and miso paste in the blended sauce. Try to add the curry block and miso paste in increments and whisk thoroughly so the sauce is not clumpy.

A hand holding butter above a pot with cooking curry sauce.

Step 8. When the sauce is mixed well, add in a slice of butter and mix well. Serve over rice and katsu for a delicious curry meal!

Expert Tips

Blend your sauce for extra creamy texture and coats the rice so well!
Add some protein in the sauce like sliced beef or chicken for extra sustenance and an easy protein and vegetable packed meal!
Add in an espresso shot or some coffee to your curry. I promise it’s not bitter and adds extra depth to your curry.

Recipe FAQs

What curry block do you recommend?

I’ve tried many different curry blocks, and my favorite is the S&B curry one because it is the most flavorful and goes well with this recipe. It’s savory, not too sweet, full of spices and very accessible at Asian grocery stores. I use medium spice level and I think the heat is not very evident. If you don’t like any heat at all, use the mild version.

How do I serve Japanese curry?

Usually curry is eaten with rice, meat and vegetables due to it’s savory and salty nature. Traditional Japanese cuisine, the curry is served with pickles called fukujinzuke (red pickled veggies). Serve this with Sesame Salad or over these Tempura Udon Noodles (Add some curry in the soup to make curry udon).

Check Out More Japanese Recipes

One Pot Oyakodon (Made in Rice Cooker) – a delicious combination of tender chicken, sweet onions, and the richness of the beaten eggs.
Easy One Pot Beef and Rice – tender and chewy short-grain rice and thinly sliced beef that melts in your mouth.
Soy Cured Egg Yolks – soy cured egg yolks are added on top of hot white rice, which adds a jammy texture and savory & umami flavor to your rice.