Pork Katsu Curry

Japanese Pork Katsu Curry is simple Japanese comfort food at its very best. A crunchy panko pork cutlet is paired with fluffy rice and silky Japanese curry sauce. It’s the perfect trio of flavour, fragrance and texture.

Words (my words anyway) can't come close to explaining how much I love Katsu curry. It has three elements and no apologies. I love nothing more than sitting in a tiny Japanese Restaurant in the warm, being deeply fulfilled by the crunchy pork or chicken cutlet (Katsu), the carb-laden rice and of course, the delicious Japanese sweet and spicy curry sauce.

This recipe has all the texture and flavour you could ask for; crunchy pork katsu, fluffy rice and a complex blend of spice in the silky curry sauce. Japanese curry sauce is so good, uniquely Japanese and completely addictive - you can make your own blend, but honestly, the boxed Japanese curry roux is hard to beat - it's one of the only convenience-lead ingredients I rarely stray from.

What's Ahead?

What is Pork Katsu Curry?

Pork katsu curry is a popular Japanese dish with British influence, featuring breaded and fried meat (typically pork or chicken) served with a rich, mildly spiced curry sauce and rice. It combines crispy textures with aromatic spiced flavours.

In Japanese, "katsu curry" is written as カツカレー and pronounced as "katsu karei."

While Katsu Curry is quitessentially Japanese, it is believed to have been influenced by Western cuisine, particularly British colonial curry, which was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period (late 19th to early 20th century).

Why it works?

It's Japanese comfort food at its best - If the weather is a little grim or you're just feeling a little 'meh' then this pork katsu curry will bring out all the sunshine! It's such a simple and deeply fulfilling plate or bowl of food that hits all the right nots of flavour and texture. Trust me, this will warm the coldest of days and hearts. I make mine with pork or chicken - both are delicious.

Curry roux blocks are ubiquitous in Japanese (and now western) supermarkets. They're concentrated curry paste that only require a little water to create the best and simplest of sauces. There are many varieties on the market that range in spice levels and some ready-to-pour options that contain vegetables like onion, potato or carrots. The curry flavour is mild in spice (even the 'spicy' versions) and have a distinctive, slightly sweet flavour.

For British readers, it's the same type of curry sauce you're served at the local chippy. Delightful!

Stuff You'll Need

You won't need too many ingredients for your homemade katsu curry.

• Pork steaks (you can use chicken breasts instead too)
• Japanese curry sauce mix (you can find these at most regular supermarkets and from Asian stores. They come in many variations, some smooth, some ready made with vegetables in. Use whichever you prefer.
• Rice - I'll use a long grain or sushi rice.
• Breading ingredients - an egg, some plain/all purpose flour and some Japanese panko breadcrumbs.
• Oil - for shallow frying (I like a mild oil like canola or sunflower).

Step by Step

Here's how to make your delicious pork katsu curry at home. Before you get started, add 1 cup of rice and two cups of water to a pan and bring it to the boil. Reduce the heat to very low and cover the pan. Let it simmer for 10-12 minutes without stirring until all the water has evaporated. Take it off the heat, remove the lid, cover the pan with a tea towel or paper towel, and then return the lid and let it rest.

1. Step 1 - Using a cooks mallet, beat the pork steak on both sides to tenderise the outside and flatten it out a little. Season with salt & pepper.
2. Step 2 - Follow the instructions on the packet to cook the Japanese curry sauce. Cover and set it aside while you get the cutlets ready.
3. Step 3 - Take your pork steaks and set up a breading station with three separate bowls. Bowl 1: Flour seasoned with salt & pepper. Bowl 2: Beaten egg mixed with 1-2 tbsp water and Bowl 3: Panko breadcrumbs. Dip the pork into the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip it into the egg mixture. Shake off any excess egg and then dip it into the Panko breadcrumbs. Coat the pork evenly in panko, pressing them firmly to adhere . Gently shake off any excess breadcrumbs. Let them dry for a few minutes to firm up
4. Step 4 - Heat the oil in a frying pan until it's hot but not smoking, around 185ºC/370ºF. Carefully place each pork cutlet into the oil, away from yourself. Let them fry for about 5-6 minutes on each side until the pork is thoroughly cooked. Once done, drain on paper towels and rest for a couple of minutes.

To serve, slice the pork katsu into thick slices and arrange them on a plate alongside the rice and a generous serving of curry sauce.

Pro Tips

• Pre bread the pork - to help save time when cooking, you can pre coat the cutlets with the breadcrumbs and wrap in plastic until needed. You can of course buy pre-breadded katsu cutlets of either pork or chicken to save yourself the breading stage.
• Curry powder roux blocks - as mentioned above this takes out ALL the effort of making your own Japanese-style curry sauce, and has that completely unique flavour in a fraction of the time. Try all the spice levels to see which is best for you. I love the spicy version which isn't that spicy at all.

Serving & Storage Suggestions

Pork Kkatsu curry is to be served right away, straight from the fryer. It's not a dish I keep for leftovers or freeze, fresh is best for sure. So for that reason I say... get it while it's hot!

Ready to get cooking?

When it's crunch time, there's nothing quite as satisfying as a big old plate of pork katsu curry and this simple, home-spun comfort food will deliver everything you need and then some. It's so easy to make at home and ready in no time.

While I have you on the whole deep fried crunch thing, another of life's great Japanese treats which features the Katsu is the formidable Katsudon - a rice bowl like no other. Crunchy chicken or pork katsu over rice with a delicious fragrant egg topping. It's beyond yum.

So, whenever you need a little comfort in your life, you should most definitely turn to the delights and life-giving properties of my Pork Katsu Curry. Hope you enjoy!

More delicious Japanese recipes

If you liked this, then you must try more of my delicious Japanese recipes.

• Menchi Katsu
• Chicken Katsudon – チキンカツ
• Japanese Miso Mushrooms
• Salmon Soba Noodles with Miso Dressing
• Buta Kakuni (Japanese Braised Pork)
• Chashu Don (Japanese Pork Rice Bowl)
• Pork Rib Soup with Noodles
• Japanese Soft Scrambled Tamago Rice Bowl

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