Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (2024)

Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (1)

Easy, homemade Japanese curry powder that’s perfect for Japanese curry, fried rice, noodles, soups, stews and more!

Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (2)

Happy Monday, friends! This week is going to be all about Japanese curry. We’re kickin’ it off with a Japanese curry powder recipe because a) I know it can be difficult to find it in stores and b) to make our own homemade curry and curry roux.

What is Japanese Curry Powder

Japanese curry powder is a spice blend made up of mild spices and herbs. While primarily used to make curry, it can also be used in soups, stews, noodles and anything you want to add a mild, subtly sweet curry flare to.

Japanese curry powder vs. Indian curry powder

The main difference between Japanese curry powder and Indian curry powder is the level of spiciness. When curry powder was first imported into Japan, they altered it to their taste, making it sweeter and less spicy. In fact, if you ever purchase ‘hot’ curry roux, you’ll find its actually still quite mild.

Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (3)

Whats in Japanese curry powder

Depending on the brand, different curry powders contain different ingredients with different ratios. I based my recipe off of the most popular brand: S&B.

The must-haves:

  • turmeric
  • coriander
  • cumin
  • fenugreek
  • ground black pepper
  • ground cinnamon
  • ginger
  • garlic powder
  • nutmeg
  • fennel
  • cardamom
  • cloves
  • bay leaf

To make it better:

  • star anise
  • allspice
  • thyme
  • sage
  • cayenne

What spice do I add to Japanese curry roux to make it spicier?

Japanese curry is meant to be mild. Even the commercially bought ones that are labeled hot are not very spicy. Two spices that can bump up the heat without changing the flavour are cayenne and black pepper. A little cayenne pepper goes a long way so be sure to add just a pinch at a time.

Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (4)

Why toast spices?

Toasting spices intensifies their flavours by breaking down their essential oils and then releasing their aromatics in a different form. It also adds layers of warming, toasty notes and a complexity of flavours.

To toast spices, add them to a pan over low heat stirring every few seconds to ensure they don’t burn. Continue until they start to release a strong fragrant smell. Remove from the pan immediently once the aromatics intensifies and be careful not to burn it.

Storing tips

The best way to keep curry powder is in an air tight container in a cool dry place away from heat or sunlight. It can last for months, but it will lose its strong aromatic flavours over time. Since it’s easy to make, I suggest using it within 2 months.

Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (5)

What can I use Japanese curry powder for?

  • Japanese Kabocha Pumpkin Curry
  • Japanese Curry Fried Rice
  • Homemade Japanese Curry ‘Roux’ Cubes (Vegan + No Butter) – coming soon!
  • Authentic Japanese Curry (From Scratch) – coming soon!

If you recreate this Japanese Curry Powder recipe let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging me on Instagram @Okonomikitchen, I love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
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Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (6)

Japanese Curry Powder Recipe

  • Author: Lisa Kitahara
  • Total Time: 3 minutes
  • Yield: 7 tbsp 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Easy, homemade Japanese curry spice that’s perfect for Japanese curry, roux, fried rice, noodles, soups, stews and more!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Add all the spices to a cast iron skillet or pan over low heat. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Once fragrant, remove from the stove and out of the pan immediently.
  2. Let the spices cool and then store in a spice jar.

Notes

  • Helpful Equipment: spice jars
  • Nutritional Information Disclaimer:Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated on an online tool (Cronometer).
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: spices
  • Method: mixing
  • Cuisine: vegan, gluten free, japanese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 tbsp
  • Calories: 20
  • Sugar: 0.2
  • Sodium: 3.3
  • Fat: 0.9
  • Saturated Fat: 0.1
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0.8
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 3.5
  • Protein: 0.9
  • Cholesterol: 0

SAVE IT FOR LATER! ↓

Japanese Curry Powder Recipe - Okonomi Kitchen (7)

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About Lisa

I'm Lisa, a home cook, recipe developer and founder of Okonomi Kitchen. Here, you'll find a mix of classic and modernized Japanese recipes, and creative, plant-forward meal inspiration using seasonal ingredients. I hope to share more about Japanese cuisine and culture through food and recipes.

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FAQs

Is Japanese curry powder different from regular curry powder? ›

The main difference between Japanese curry powder and Indian curry powder is the level of spiciness. When curry powder was first imported into Japan, they altered it to their taste, making it sweeter and less spicy. In fact, if you ever purchase 'hot' curry roux, you'll find its actually still quite mild.

What are the ingredients in S&B curry powder? ›

Features: Ingredients: Tumeric, coriander, fenugreek, cumin, orange peel, pepper, chili pepper, cinnamon, fennel, ginger, star anise, thyme, bay leaves, cloves, nutmeg, sage, cardamom.

Is golden curry Japanese curry mix vegan? ›

S&B curry powders are widely available in supermarkets. S&B customer service recommends their Eighteen-Vegetable Curry and S&B Golden Curry Japanese-style Curry Sauce Mix, no animal-derived ingredients for vegans, even though some of their other products don't have obvious animal ingredients in the ingredient lists.

What veg to add to Japanese curry? ›

Vegetables: Japanese curry is typically made with vegetables like onions, carrots, and potatoes. We like to add shiitake mushrooms to make it extra hearty and add umami flavor. You can use any vegetables you'd like. Japanese sweet potatoes, peas, or green beans would also make good additions.

Why is Japanese curry so addicting? ›

The stand-out feature of a Japanese curry is its thick, rich sauce. The thickness of the sauce which can only be found in Japanese curry is supported and beloved by many. The rich and indulgent sauce mixes with rice so perfectly, you will find it difficult stoping eating.

Can I use regular curry powder for Japanese curry? ›

Japanese Curry Powder

You can use other brands of curry powder. However, to achieve the authentic Japanese flavor, I strongly recommend using S&B Curry Powder for making the homemade curry roux. These days you can buy the S&B Curry Powder on Amazon.

Why is my S&B curry not thickening? ›

QSauce is not thick. What should I do? open
  • Simmer, stirring constantly not to stick to the bottom.
  • If the water has reduced too much, add reasonable amount of water.
  • If the water is obviously too much, such as thin taste, evaporate moisture by further heating, or add roux and heat.

What can I use instead of Japanese curry powder? ›

  • … ...
  • It would be really nice to add garam masala when making meat dishes or stir-fried dishes. ...
  • Turmeric, Coriander, and All Spice.
  • You can use turmeric, coriander, and All Spice to make a substitute for curry powder. ...
  • Cumin and All Spice.
  • Cumin and All Spice is another simple recipe you can make at home.
Jan 4, 2022

Do Japanese people use golden curry? ›

Golden Curry has been the staple of Japanese soul food ever since 1966. A fan favorite in Japan for over 50 years!

Is golden curry the same as Japanese curry? ›

S&B Golden Curry is a boxed form of Japanese curry, a dish that's extremely popular in Japan and Korea. While curry sauce mixes can often be found in powder form, S&B Golden Curry Sauce Mix comes in a bar, similar to a chocolate bar, with squares meant to be broken apart.

Are Japanese curry cubes healthy? ›

“Everything in excess is bad,” so you should consume Japanese curry in moderation because it is high in sodium and fat- which can make a person sick when taken too much. Nevertheless, consuming it often can provide you with several health benefits and a lot of strength. Japanese curry is a good source of protein.

What thickens Japanese curry? ›

The sauce is thickened by a roux (a mixture of fat and flour and an addition of curry spices). You can find many variations of Japanese curries, ranging from regions to households, but the most basic one uses chicken, which is the recipe I'm sharing here.

What is the red thing in Japanese curry? ›

Japanese curry is often served alongside with steamed rice and an accompaniment of bright crimson red relish called f*ckujinzuke (福神漬け). These pickled vegetables are sweet and tangy, which is perfect to set off the richness of curry.

What is the best addition to Japanese curry? ›

Vegetables: The most standard vegetables added to Japanese curry are onions, potatoes, carrots and mushrooms. However, feel free to use other vegetables like peppers, kabocha, sugar snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans or okra. Butter: Adds richness to the curry. Use dairy-free butter as needed.

Are all curry powders the same? ›

There are a nearly endless variety of curry powder types. One way to think about it is that curry is similar to barbecue rubs in that each family or chef has their own version. While there are common curry powder ingredients, the ratios, and measurements can vary.

Can you use Indian curry for Japanese curry? ›

If you mean using a pre-made Indian style curry powder… yes. Keeping in mind of course, that curry powder like that is, essentially, an extremely British thing. You can mix up your own, the main ingredients are cumin, coriander, turmeric, fenugreek and, depending on your tolerance, chilli powder or unsmoked paprika.

Does Japanese curry taste different? ›

Japanese curry is relatively mild compared to its Asian counterparts because it is made of an harmonious blend of curry powder and spices in which no particular ingredient stands out. Slightly sweet ingredients such as sautéed onions, grated apples, carrots or honey are also usually added to add sweetness and umami.

What makes Japanese curry taste different? ›

The sauce itself is usually made from curry powder or roux, which consists of a blend of basic Indian spices. The typical Japanese curry is generally thicker in texture and tastes sweeter but less spicy than its Indian counterpart.

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