Every so often, this is one of those plates I get a serious craving for. I always think that katsu cutlets tend to be a little too dry and that simple curry rice plates are a little bit boring, so when I'm able to order them together, I get really excited. They really balance each other out!
Traditionally, katsu curry is made with chicken, beef, or pork, but you can customize this however you would want. For example, I have seen people sub the meat out for thick breaded cuts of eggplant or Portobello mushroom for an equally satisfying vegetarian dish.
Katsu Curry
(Makes 4 servings)
INGREDIENTS:
To Make the Katsu (Meat Version) -
4 pork loin chops, chicken breast, or thin steaks (about 1" thick, no bones)
Salt & pepper, to taste
1/2 cup flour
1 - 2 eggs
1 cup panko or bread crumbs
Oil for deep frying
To Make the Katsu (Vegan/Vegetarian Version) -
4 1" thick slices of eggplant, 4 portobello caps, or 4 store-bought seitan-based cutlets (I would recommend trying Gardein's Chick'n Scallopini - thawed - for this dish.)
Salt & pepper, to taste
1/2 cup flour
1 - 2 egg replacements (Ener-G Egg Replacer woould be good for this recipe.)
1 cup panko or bread crumbs
Oil for frying
To Make the Curry -
2 yellow onions
2 carrots
3 potatoes
1 tablespoons oil
3 1/2 cups water
1 box curry sauce mix (approximately 4 ounces)
4 cups of cooked white rice
DIRECTIONS:
1) To make the katsu, make small cuts all over your cutlet of choice with tip of knife. Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides. Coat it with flour, dip in eggs (or egg replacement), then cover with bread crumbs.
2) Heat deep frying oil to 350 F, and deep fry crumb-covered cutlet. (You can check the temperature by dropping a bread crumb. If it comes up to the oil surface right after it's dropped, it's good.)
3) Fry until color turns golden brown and cutlet floats in the oil, about 5-8 minutes, turning once or twice. Set the meat on a cooling rack for a minute. Cut into 5-6 pieces.
4) To make the curry, cut vegetables into bite size pieces. Heat oil and fry onions for 8 minutes. Add carrots and potatoes. Add water to the pot. After it boils, remove from heat and add curry sauce mix. Stir well so the pieces of the mix dissolve. Let it simmer for 10 - 15 minutes (cook longer if you'd like it thicker). If you'd like to add the optional curry powder, stir it in just before serving.
5) Put about a cup of rice on each plate, then place a katsu over the rice. Finally, generously pour curry over it. Serve while still warm.
