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One-Pot Japanese Curry Rice (Chicken Katsu Style) — Japanese-Inspired Rice recipe, 50 min, serves 4Japanese-Inspired

One-Pot Japanese Curry Rice (Chicken Katsu Style)

Published ·Updated ·by ·✓ Editorially Reviewed
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Dairy-freeHigh protein

Sweet-savoury Japanese curry — fall-apart chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots in glossy curry sauce over short-grain rice. Comfort food from Tokyo to your kitchen in 50 minutes.

50
min
15
prep
🔥
35
cook
👥
4
servings
520
kcal / serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

1

Heat oil in a large pot. Brown chicken 5-6 minutes until golden.

💡 Don't crowd — brown in 2 batches if needed.
2

Add onion, cook 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and ginger, 60 seconds.

3

Add carrots and potatoes. Stir for 2 minutes to coat in fat.

4

Pour in broth. Add soy sauce, Worcestershire and honey. Bring to gentle boil.

5

Reduce heat, simmer covered 20 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.

20:00
6

Break curry roux into chunks. Stir into pot until fully dissolved.

💡 Roux melts into a glossy thickened sauce in 3-4 min.
7

Add garam masala if using. Simmer 5 minutes — sauce thickens dramatically.

5:00
8

Taste — adjust with extra soy or honey to balance. If too thick, add splash of water; too thin, add cornstarch slurry.

💡 Japanese curry should coat the back of a spoon.
9

Serve over short-grain Japanese rice. Garnish with parsley or scallion.

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Common Questions

Where to buy Japanese curry roux?
Asian grocers, supermarket international aisle, or Amazon. S&B Golden Curry is the standard.
Mild or hot?
Boxes come in mild/medium/hot. Mild is what Japanese kids eat. Hot is roughly medium-American spicy.
Make from scratch?
Yes but complex. Easy: melt 4 tbsp butter, whisk in 4 tbsp flour + 3 tbsp curry powder. Cook 10 min. Adds to recipes as roux brick would.
Serve with?
Short-grain Japanese rice. Tonkatsu (breaded pork). Tonkatsu sauce on the side.
Storage?
Refrigerator up to 4 days. Freezes well — up to 2 months.

What to drink with this

🍷
Wine
A medium-bodied red like Pinot Noir, or unoaked Chardonnay if you prefer white.
🍺
Beer
Pale ale or pilsner — light enough to not overpower.
🍸
Cocktail
Classic gin and tonic with cucumber.
🥤
Non-alcoholic
Sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon and fresh herbs.

Ingredient substitutions

IngredientReplace withRatioNotes
soy saucetamari1:1Gluten-free. Slightly less sweet, more pronounced umami.
coconut aminos1:1Soy-free + gluten-free. Slightly sweeter; reduce other sweeteners.

Why this recipe works

Pro tips

Recipe variations

Common mistakes to avoid

The story behind this recipe ▾
Curry came to Japan via British naval officers in the late 1800s and evolved into a distinctly Japanese dish — sweeter than Indian, thicker than Thai. S&B Golden Curry is the supermarket standard. Pair with tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) for the iconic restaurant combo.
This recipe is for inspiration only. We do not provide food safety, storage, or nutritional advice. Always follow your local food safety guidelines. Check all ingredients for allergens.
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