Chicken Katsu Curry (Video)

Chicken Katsu with Curry on a bed of rice on a plate.

5 from 13 votes

Chicken Katsu Curry (Video)

Chicken Katsu Curry is the ultimate comfort dish - the crispy, juicy fried Chicken Katsu with the savory Japanese curry and a side of steamed rice is so delicious and satisfying!

Prep Time10

Cook Time12

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Japanese

Servings:

Author: Chris Joe

Ingredients

Chicken

2 chicken breast fillets pounded to 1/2" thick
2 eggs large
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
neutral oil for frying; I used avocado oil

Curry

2 carrots medium, cut into 1" chunks
1 yellow onion medium, cut into 1" chunks
2 potatoes small, cut into 1" chunks
2 cloves garlic chopped
2 cups water
Japanese curry cubes 1/2 package

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Pound chicken breast to 1/2" thick and season both sides with salt and pepper.
Mix together egg, flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to form a wet batter. The consistency should be slightly looser than pancake batter (add water if needed).
Dredge chicken completely and let any excess drip off. Transfer chicken into panko breadcrumbs and coat well, making sure there are no bald spots.
Fry at 350°F for 5-6 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F. Set aside on a wire rack to cool.
For the curry, chop garlic and cut carrot, onion, and potatoes into similar sized chunks.
In a heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp of oil over medium high heat. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds and add carrots, onions, and potatoes for 5 minutes. Cover with water and bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
Turn off the heat and add in your curry cube mix and mix through. Continue stirring and cooking over low heat until desired consistency is achieved. Serve with chicken over some freshly steamed rice and enjoy!

Notes

Curry Cubes - I grew up watching my family use Japanese curry (roux) cubes, and I also prefer using the cubes when cooking. My favorite brand is Golden Curry and I like the "hot" or "extra hot" flavor. In this recipe, I use half of the box. You don't need to use the entire package - the cubes are very concentrated. Note - the curry cubes are high in sodium, so if you are concerned about that, I would use less cubes. This will result in a less flavorful curry but it will still taste good.

Vegetables for the Curry - I personally like to use carrots, onion, and potatoes - these are vegetables you would traditionally see in Japanese curry. You can use any combination of vegetables you prefer - customize to your taste!

Make sure to cut the vegetables to similar sizes so they cook evenly in the curry. Don't cut them too large (I try to keep them to 1" pieces) otherwise they won't cook thoroughly or it will take too long and your curry will be too reduced.

Other vegetables you can use are: squash (kobucha or butternut), mushrooms, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, green beans, zucchini. Some people like to add diced apples - the sweetness actually goes with the curry beautifully!

Watch the Oil Temperature for Chicken Katsu - Do not let your frying oil drop below 325-350F when frying! I highly recommend you use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. If you see it dropping below 325F, wait for the oil temperature to come back up and fry in batches. Frying at a low temperature will result in too much moisture, results in soggy and oily Chicken Katsu.

Use a Thermometer for Chicken Katsu - If you are not a seasoned pro at cooking (and honestly, even if you are!) I would highly recommend you use a meat thermometer to check your chicken - the internal temperature should be at 165F to be safe to eat. Undercooked chicken can lead to food poisoning, so always err on the side of caution!

Nutrition