Katsu Kare (Chicken Cutlets and Curry)

Katsu Kare is a flavor masterpiece as it marries warm kare sauce over crispy chicken katsu. In this luxuriously spiced Japanese dish, Spicewalla’sMadras curry powder builds the foundation for  a silky and earthy curry. Chicken Katsu, or Japanese fried chicken cutlets, is a delightfully crispy companion to the spicy kare that perfectly balances its deep flavors and rich texture.

Recipe co-developed by Mehreen Karim. 

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

KARE (CURRY):

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons flour

3 tablespoons curry powder

2 teaspoons garam masala, optional

1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder

3 cups vegetable stock

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste

3 large carrots, peeled

1 potato, peeled 

1 onion 

1 teaspoon ground coriander 

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons honey 

2 tablespoons soy sauce 

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

KATSU (CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLETS):

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

½ cup potato flour or cornstarch (all purpose flour will work in a pinch)

2 eggs, beaten

1 ½  cups panko breadcrumbs

Canola or vegetable oil, for frying

METHOD

1. In a large heavy bottom pot, melt the butter over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Add the flour, curry powder, and chili powder to the butter and whisk to make a roux  (paste of flour and butter). Continue whisking for 3 minutes, or until the smell of raw flour dissipates and the spices are fragrant.

2. While whisking, slowly pour in one cup of the stock at a time, allowing the roux to thicken the stock before adding in the next cup. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the apple sauce and one tablespoon of kosher salt. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer uncovered while you chop your vegetables.

3. Chop the carrots, onion, and potato into large 1 to 2 inch pieces  and add it to the kare. Add the ground coriander, ground cumin, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings based on your preference. Let the vegetables cook in the kare uncovered on low heat for about 30 minutes or until tender with a bite.

4. For the Chicken Katsu: slice each chicken breast in half crosswise then cover the  cutting board with a large piece of saran wrap and place a chicken breast in the center. Fold the saran wrap over the chicken and pound it with a mallet or a heavy object like a can or rolling pin. Flatten the thickest part of the chicken breast until the entire breast is roughly ¼ inch thick. Repeat for each piece of chicken. Season the chicken with a generous amount of salt and pepper.

5. To fry the chicken, pour the canola oil into a large pot for deep frying or cast-iron skillet,until the oil reaches 3-4 inches height. Heat the oil on medium heat. In the meantime,  set up a dredging station by placing the starch, panko bread crumbs, and eggs each into separate shallow dishes. 

6. Take each chicken breast and dip it into the potato starch to coat and shake off any excess. Dip each side in the egg mixture to coat, letting any excess drip off. Then dip it in the panko breadcrumbs to coat. 

7. Once the oil reaches 350 degrees, carefully place the chicken into the oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, and fry on each side for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel or wire rack to drain off any excess oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. 

8. Serve alongside white rice and a heaping serving of warm kare.

Notes on the Inspiration:

Katsu Kare is a masterpiece of flavors and textures, marrying a rich and warm kare sauce over soft white rice with crispy chicken katsu. Ordering curry ramen and chicken katsu from my go-to ramen takeout spot in the East Village ended up sparking a long-term love affair with Katsu Kare. 

While kare, otherwise known as Japanese curry, can be traced back to the British colonization of India, it’s completely different from the South Asian curries that typically come to mind. In this smooth and subtly spiced dish, Kare relies on curry powder to build the base of its flavor profile. Uniquely, traditional kare recipes call for grated apple or applesauce to balance out the dishes' aromatic and earthy spices. Ultimately this dish serves as a lesson in artfully balancing and layering flavors and textures. 

Notes on the Technique:

A roux is a foundational element to a wide variety of dishes from macaroni & cheese and chicken pot pie to, you guessed it, Katsu Kare. It’s made by cooking down a fat (we’re using butter) and flour to make a thick paste. When a liquid, in this case vegetable stock, is combined gradually into that paste, it thickens, making a silky-smooth sauce— which is exactly what you’re looking for in this curry. 

Katsu, ultra-crispy chicken cutlet, makes for the perfect contrasting texture to the rich and flavorful curry. We call for potato flour or cornstarch in this recipe because they both have a higher starch content than the usual all purpose flour. The extra starch helps to avoid excess absorption of oil during frying yielding tender and juicy chicken with a crispier bite. Panko breadcrumbs (Japanese-style breadcrumbs) are larger, drier, and flakier than regular bread crumbs, making all the difference when it comes to achieving that iconic crunchy crust.