Katsu curry

Credit and permission to share: wagamama

This recipe story links to my first encounter with the dish tonkatsu decades ago (not the recipe below) when catering at a huge Japanese company in the UK, but it also links to how companies like wagamama demonstrate their purpose so important to today’s society that I believe passionately in. 

Apart from that, it is a bangingly popular, great dish so make it immediately!

You will need:

for the dish

120g rice (any rice will do!)

2 skinless chicken breasts

50g plain flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

100g panko breadcrumbs

75ml vegetable oil, for deep-frying

40g mixed salad leaves

for the sauce (using our paste)

120g katsu paste

120ml coconut milk

for the sauce (from scratch)

2–3 tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

2.5cm piece of ginger, peeled + grated

1 tsp turmeric

2 heaped tbsp mild curry powder

1 tbsp plain flour

300ml chicken or veg stock

100ml coconut milk

1 tsp light soy sauce

1 tsp sugar, to taste

instructions

step one

make the katsu curry sauce (if using our paste)

add 120g katsu paste + the same amount of coconut milk to a pot. stir + bring to a simmer

that’s it! how easy was that? skip the next step + head straight to the dish instructions

step two

how to make katsu curry sauce from scratch

start to soften the onions, garlic + ginger. then add curry powder, turmeric. allow to sit on a low to medium heat

add the flour, cook for 1 minute with the spices. add the chicken stock slowly, followed by the 100ml coconut milk. add pinch of sugar, salt + dash of soy sauce

strain through a sieve, a little bit at a time, to make it smooth

step three

make the dish

cook the rice according to the packet instructions

split chicken fillets in half + coat in flour. soak each one in egg, then dip into breadcrumbs. make sure all sides of the chicken are covered, then put into the pan. cook fillets until golden brown

slice the chicken into lengths + plate up next to the rice. add salad, or wok-fried greens to the plate alongside, then drench in curry sauce

step four

enjoy

turn on the tv

pour a drink

sit back and enjoy