Insider's Kitchen

s No.157(2/12/10)

Japanese Curry with Rice

By Keiko H. Johnson
Staff Writer

While this dish is widely consumed in Japan, many of you may have already tried the dish. The curry dish originates in India, and was introduced to Japan during the 1960’s while India was under the occupation of England; however, Japanese curry is thicker and sweeter than Indian curry. While Indian curry is served with Nan (flat bread), Japanese curry is served over a bed of rice. I would like to introduce a Japanese curry rice recipe today in this section. The Japanese curry is fairly simple to make. Vegetables mainly used for this dish are carrots, onions, and potatoes. For the meat beef, chicken, or pork are often used for Japanese curry.

Ingredients:
2 Large size onions: thinly sliced
2 Whole potatoes: washed, peeled, and cut into bite sizes (Large chunks)
1 Carrots: cut into inch thick round chunks
1-2tbsps: Grease
1Pkg: Curry Mix (Curry Roux)
4 Cups of water
1 Garlic clove: minced or finely chopped
Grated Parmesan Cheese (desired amount)

Directions:
1. Heat the pan and pour the grease into the pan.
2. Stir fry onion until the onion becomes soft and lightly brown in its color, when you are doing so, make sure the onion does not get burnt (approximately 30 mins.).
3. Add potatoes, carrots, and garlic into the pan. Keep frying for 5 minutes, or until vegetables become brighter in color (I usually pay close attention to the edges of the potatoes, when the edges begin to change color, go to the next step.)
4. Add meat in the pan and continue cooking until the color changes to brown.
5. Pour water into the pan just to cover the top of the ingredients (about 4 cups).
6. Let it boil and cook until vegetables are soft, when you can pierce them with fork.
7. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir curry mix into the pan (break the curry mix into cubes before you add into the pan).
8. Once the curry mix dissolves completely, put the pan back onto the stove and simmer until the soup becomes thicker in its texture.
9. Pour curry over the cooked rice.
10. Dash desired amount of parmesan cheese on top of curry before serving.

At home, curry is often served with pork culet (deep fried pork) on top. You may also add frozen vegetables, corn, or any types of vegetables you can find in your refrigerator. Frozen shrimp, or seafood of any kind can be used for this dish as well.

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