How to make Japanese Curry

Yes that's right Japan likes curry, they call it Kare Rice. Their love of curry dates into prehistory when they met the British Navy, at that time the biggest bestest navy in the world. The Japanese looking at this navy decided the best way to get a navy just as good was to copy it down to the tiniest detail, a cunning plan. One of those tiny details was the meals - curry! Or at least that's one of the stories I've been told, and I believe anything.



Japanese curry is much milder than say India or basterized British creations, and sometimes they do crazy things like add apples to make it sweet. But don't worry, we won't be adding any apples today. Japanese curry is the favoured meal of the college student and mother as it's quick, tasty and cheap. The best way to make it is to use Kare Rice Blocks.

Japanses Curry Recipe

• 2-3 good sized potatoes


• 2-3 carrots


• 2 large onions


• Curry blocks


• Thinly sliced beef (a little bit fatty is best)


• Short grain rice


• Pickled Daikon (optional)

First you get a very large pan and heat some oil in it, so it's very hot. Peel and slice the potatoes into chunks (think half wedges). Peel and chop the carrots, chop the onion into 6 or so big pieces. Throw all the vegetables in the pot. This will create a satisfying hissing sound.

Mix them around and when you see the vegetables starting to go a little brown on the outside throw in the thinly slice beef, which should brown fast. Once it's browned add enough water so that everything is just about covered and simmer.

This may a good time to start cooking the rice. After a minute or two add a serving of the curry blocks (probably 2-4 depending on the size of the curry blocks). This should slowly dissolve and eventually thicken. You can add salt, pepper and other spices at this point.

Cover and simmer until the potatoes are so soft you can cut them with a fork. Then it's ready, pour to one side of the white rice and garnish with pickled daikon.

This is a very easy to modify recipe. I like to use chicken and spinach. You can also serve it with udon if you add more water a little dashi so it's more soup like. Experiment and enjoy!