30 minute Japanese Vegan Katsu Curry

A vegan version of (30-minute) Japanese Katsu curry, my way! With a little help from the store, you can create a rich velvety curry over crispy katsu in no time!

I grew up eating Japanese curry. It is quite a popular dish in Korea. In fact, I wasn't introduced to Indian and Thai curry until I came to America. This may not be the case for many of you. Probably the opposite - familiar with Indian and Thai curry but not the Japanese. But I'm telling you, I haven't met anyone who didn't like it once they tried. 

But you might ask, what's so special about Japanese curry?

Difference between Japanese curry, Indian curry, and Thai curry

Japanese curry - In 19 century, the curry was introduced to Japan. Then the Japanese people modified the recipe to cater to their taste - not so spicy and sweet. Japanese curry is thicker, umami front, and less spicy than Indian or Thai curry. Most commonly, Japanese curry is served with rice or noodles.

Indian curry - It has a very pronounced spice-front flavor and it can be much spicier than Japanese curry. Rice and/or bread (such as naan or roti) are served with curry. 

Thai curry - It is soupy of all the curries and a lot of them are coconut milk-based. The curry uses herbs like Lemongrass and/or kaffir lime and seasoned with fish sauce. Such herbs and condiments are not common in Japanese and Indian curry. Often, rice and noodles are served with Thai curry. 

Is Japanese curry vegan?

The curry roux consists of flour, fat (usually butter), and curry spices. So not all Japanese curry is vegan-friendly. If you are buying the curry at the store, make sure to check the ingredients. If you are buying it online, S&B Golden curry (which is what I use) is vegan. But Vermont curry from House Foods is NOT vegan (it contains milk).

Now that we learned about Japanese curry, let's talk "Katsu."

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What is Katsu?

Katsu is a panko-breaded cutlet dish in Japan. The most common meat they use for katsu is pork and chicken. But you can make katsu with beef, fish, and even plant-based ingredients!

What is a good vegan option for katsu?

• Tofu katsu 
• Seitan Katsu
• Store-bought vegan katsu (Gardein Turk'y cutlet or Morning Star Farms Veggie Chik Patties)

There are so many great tofu katsu recipes out there. You can easily make these in an air fryer if you don't want to deep-fry. You can also make the seitan katsu the same way as you would tofu katsu. 

Or if you want something quick and easy, you can easily find vegan cutlets at a grocery store. I like Gardein Turk'y cutlet but Morning Star Farms Veggie Chik Patties also works for this recipe

Ingredients in 30 minute Japanese Vegan Katsu Curry

• Japanese curry sauce mix/roux (S&B Golden Curry)
• Vegetables (onion, potato, carrot, and celery)
• Vegan Katsu (Gardein Turk'y Cutlet)

Celery is an unusual ingredient in conventional Japanese curry. But my mom always puts celery in her curry so I do so as well. Celery holds up to a hearty sauce very well and I think it deepens the flavor of the curry. 

Helpful tips on making 30 minute Japanese Vegan Katsu Curry

• Add more veggies like mushrooms and other hearty root vegetables. You can even add a grated apple for extra sweetness. 
• For this recipe, you are using half the box of the curry sauce/roux. Store the other half in the refrigerator for a couple of months. If you removed the film of the roux, place them in a zip-lock bag and keep it in the fridge. 
• You can reheat the curry in a microwave. Just add a splash of water. As the curry sits in the fridge, the sauce gets thicker. Adding a little bit of water helps thin out the sauce. 
• I like to serve my curry with fermented Kimchi. That's how I always enjoyed my curry growing up. So if you have some kimchi at home, this makes a great side dish!

Although the origin of this dish is from Japan, every child in Korea grew up eating Japanese curry. So I'm very thankful that I can still enjoy my childhood comfort food vegan-style! 

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