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Sea Six 03-03-2012 12:34pm

This thread is reserved for NEED-A-VETTE'S curry recipe
 
:waiting:

NEED-A-VETTE 03-03-2012 12:50pm

:rofl: Gonna start on it in a little bit. :D

Sea Six 03-03-2012 12:58pm

:D

kingpin 03-03-2012 6:31pm

Don't forget the obligatory pic of you in just an apron.
TIA!

NEED-A-VETTE 03-03-2012 6:38pm

Ha!

Eating now, so will post up shortly.

NEED-A-VETTE 03-03-2012 11:50pm

Ok...

Japanese curry is very different from Indian curry. It's more of a spicy “stew” served over rice. I'm not a huge fan of Indian curry...at all. Japanese curry is nothing like it. Even if you don’t like Indian curry, chances are you WILL like Japanese curry.

I recommend sticky rice with curry. You can have any rice you'd like, but sticky rice is traditional.

The recipe is easy. It can be served alone over rice or with chicken or pork katsu. I recommend making it alone, without the Katsu, for your first try. My daughter, my sister, IC's daughter...they've all learned how to make this and it's super simple. It’s literally a one pot meal.

To make it, you need the curry mix. You can usually find it at your grocery store in the aisle with the asian foods near the soy sauce and teriyaki sauce, etc. But if you only have a few choices, that’s ok. I really have not come across one that I dislike.

Los Angeles has a large asian population and, therefore, has fantastic asian markets all over the place. I have a large Asian market right near me that I love. I am fortunate to have a very large selection of curry brands and types.

https://i.imgur.com/61jKq7N.jpg

My personal favorite is the House Brand Kokumaro in hot. S&B is probably the most widely distributed, though, and it's also good.

https://i.imgur.com/aCG0otT.jpg

The curry mix is a roux or bouillon type mix. Almost like a chocolate bar that can be broken up. There is a shelf life for this that is not as long as other boxed foods, so if you're not making it right away, that's just something to be aware of.

https://i.imgur.com/vGcXWWu.jpg

Having said that, I have used it 4-6 months after it’s expiration date, however, and I have not died. :leaving:

Traditionally, fukujinzuke is served with curry, which I also happened to be out of. It's just radish, daikon, eggplant, etc., chopped up and pickled. Crunchy and slightly sweet. Not a heavy flavor, but goes well with the curry.

https://i.imgur.com/HSOcjuV.jpg

I put it in a Tupperware container after I open it. Since its pickled, it will last a long time that way.

Anyhow, I decided to make chicken curry today because chicken was on sale. I also decided that I'd make chicken Katsu to go with it.

You can use chicken, beef or pork in the curry. Pork gives the best flavor, IMO. You can also use pork for the Katsu, which is called tonkatsu.

Here are the ingredients for the curry:

https://i.imgur.com/p9JiCeJ.jpg

The directions on the box only call for 1 1/8 lbs (500g) of meat. I like extra meat in mine. (shut up) My package of chicken is almost 3 lbs before I cleaned and trimmed it.

The recipe also calls for 4 onions...I typically only add 2. I use 4 potatoes, as listed, but I usually use 3-4 small carrots...the recipe calls for 1.

Get the chicken all cleaned and cut up. I'd say I cut it up in maybe 1/2 cubes. Some bigger, some smaller.

https://i.imgur.com/9Z1fYsj.jpg

Heat a pot with a little oil...just a few tablespoons. Put the chicken in the pot and start cooking it.

Make sure it’s a neutral tasting oil like vegetable oil. You wouldn’t want to use olive oil for something like this.

https://i.imgur.com/G7TtJxh.jpg

Start cutting up the rest of your veggies. Some people like their onions chopped in rough wedges. Everyone around here likes them diced up. The carrots and potatoes are just cut up however you like...in a size that will cook thoroughly.

For the potatoes, I don't normally peel them. I cut them up skin on. It doesn't really make too much of a difference. I find the potatoes hold together better when reheating, etc. Plus, I'm lazy.

Chicken is starting to lose its pink color...

https://i.imgur.com/BOEcHsy.jpg

Add onions and carrots...

https://i.imgur.com/7lFwtcu.jpg

Stir in to cook and cover, to give the chicken some flavor as it finishes and to give the onions and carrots a head start.

https://i.imgur.com/ocBIitm.jpg

After about 10 mins or so, add the water. This particular curry calls for 5 cups of water. I always add a little less water than it calls for. That’s just personal preference, as I like mine a little thicker. For this batch, for example, I'll use 4.5 cups of water rather than 5 cups.

https://i.imgur.com/gKpg6oZ.jpg

Curry mixes vary QUITE a bit in the amount of water they call for. Some mixes are just more concentrated than others. Look at the directions on the box. Rule of thumb for me is I usually double the meat it calls for, reduce the onions by one or two, increase the carrots by a few and reduce the water slightly. I usually use the same amount of potatoes listed on the box.

The good thing about this recipe is that it's flexible to whatever you want. If you think you'd like more of something...just toss it in.

Back to cooking... Bring the chicken, veggies and water to a boil. While your wait for that, cut up your potatoes. Once the water comes to a boil, toss in the potatoes.

https://i.imgur.com/z4p8lVL.jpg

Stir it up and bring back to a boil. While waiting, break up the curry mix.

https://i.imgur.com/qTSQwPY.jpg

I'm making a big batch of curry, so I'm using the whole box of mix. Once the pot comes to a boil, toss in the curry cubes.

https://i.imgur.com/CZobvdy.jpg

They,ll begin to melt almost immediately...

https://i.imgur.com/7WLVxNh.jpg

Keep stirring until they are totally incorporated... It doesn't take long, maybe 5 minutes or so.

https://i.imgur.com/t8znDNo.jpg

Let it boil just for a few minutes while stirring. Then cover and reduce heat to a slight rolling simmer. Stir it occasionally to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom. Also be sure that undissolved curry isn't stuck in the veggies/meat. That's it for the curry. You're just basically waiting for the veggies to cook in the sauce.

One thing to note: when I'm making pork or beef curry, I add in all the ingredients EXCEPT the potatoes. Then I let it all simmer for at least an hour, longer if you can. This will make sure the pork or beef is tender. Add the potatoes about 15 minutes or so before you serve it, depending on how large you cut the potatoes. If you add the potatoes and them let it simmer for a few hours, the meat will be tender, but the potatoes will be over cooked. No matter what kind of meat you’re using, add the potatoes last because they really only need to cook until tender, which is not long.

While that simmers, I usually start the rice. For sticky rice, I use something that is fairly glutinous.

https://i.imgur.com/2Iw2jDE.jpg

I use a Japanese rice measuring cup to measure out the rice. I'm making six "cups". One Japanese rice cup is equivalent to about 3/4 cup here.

https://i.imgur.com/7CVyIDW.jpg

The rice needs to be rinsed. Use cold water for rinsing.

I’m using a rice cooker which is marked on the side for my water level. Therefore, while I’m washing the rice, it doesnt matter how much water I use, since I’m pouring it out as I rinse it. When I am ready to cook it, that’s when I will add the proper amount of water, relative to the amount of rice I am cooking.

The water will be cloudy when you first start rinsing.

https://i.imgur.com/uK1LYjJ.jpg

I swish the rice around and "polish" the rice by grinding it in my hand against itself. But you can also just swish it around. The water will get even cloudier as you do this.

https://i.imgur.com/OA44v4m.jpg

I do this whole process 5-6 times...until the water stays fairly clear when I add more water.

https://i.imgur.com/6lWy6gr.jpg

You can let the rice soak for about 30 mins. After that, rinse a few more times and drain. I didn't let it soak today. Not a big deal.

Cook the rice according to directions. In my case, I'm using a rice cooker. Since I used six "cups" of rice, I fill the water up to the 6.

If you're cooking your rice on the stove top, you'll have to drain completely after the last rinse so you can accurately measure the water you put back in the pot.

Whichever way you cook it, just make sure that each time you pour the water out to rinse it again, you're not dumping rice out, too. This will mess with your water to rice ratio because you'll have less rice in the pot than you think.

I toss it in the rice cooker...

https://i.imgur.com/shdl1o4.jpg

Regular white rice setting. Start cooking. Easy.

If you don’t have a rice cooker, it’s worth a purchase. I recommend the zojirushi brand. Splurge for the induction heating and you will have perfectly cooked rice every single time.

https://i.imgur.com/FO2EjYx.jpg

While the rice cooks and the curry simmers, I'll make the chicken Katsu. Here are the ingredients for the Katsu.

https://i.imgur.com/Rmg2fb8.jpg

Clean and cut the chicken into chucks. I usually cut one chicken breast in half.

https://i.imgur.com/hzyU3cc.jpg

Pound out the chicken until its very thin. You want this to cook fast, which will mean less oil absorption.

Put about 2 inches of oil in a pan and turn to high heat. Don't let the oil smoke, but you want the oil pretty warm.

https://i.imgur.com/x4x3ijX.jpg

While the oil heats, I'll set up my staging area of chicken, salt/pepper, flour, egg and panko.

https://i.imgur.com/r1gu2JE.jpg

Before I put the chicken in, I test my oil by dropping a few panko crumbs into the pan. If they sizzle up, I know it's ready. That's important because the technique is to flash fry and brown the chicken quickly...it shouldn't be sitting in the oil too long.

https://i.imgur.com/kcJXxjv.jpg

I cook 1-2 pieces at a time and I don't dress them ahead of time. The panko grabs too much moisture while sitting and doesn't crisp up as well. Again, the idea behind the Katsu is to fry the meat to get it crispy, without retaining a lot of oil. The meat is pounded thinly enough that it will cook thoroughly very quickly.

I cook one (maybe two) pieces at a time, to keep the oil temp from dropping. Also, you don’t want to overcrowd the pan.

To get the chicken ready...

Salt and pepper...

https://i.imgur.com/MzkTKm1.jpg

Flour...

https://i.imgur.com/ejHV2jP.jpg

Egg...

https://i.imgur.com/EZrh5d0.jpg

Panko...which I like to press in nicely, to get a good coating...

https://i.imgur.com/RGmfBJr.jpg

Put into the hot oil...

https://i.imgur.com/NGJUVvw.jpg

I salt and pepper both sides in the pan, as well. The oil should be hot enough that it bubbles up vigourously right away. The first side should be browned within a minute or two. Flip, brown the other side and remove.

If you're cooking a lot of pieces, like I did today, I will set them on an oven pan that allows the oil to drain, then put them in the oven at like 250 degrees until all the pieces are cooked. Just to keep them warm.

https://i.imgur.com/lFsGQSq.jpg

Also, if you are cooking a lot of Katsu, you may have to occasionally scoop out panko bread crumbs in the pan that start to get too dark...keep an eye out for that.

Once everything is done, plate it up...

Rice and Katsu.

https://i.imgur.com/moJcx5v.jpg

Top with curry and fukujinzuke on the side...

https://i.imgur.com/cJ7dUMq.jpg

The curry is usually thicker than in the pic above, but I ladled it out while it was still simmering. I was not patient. :D

If you take it off the flame and let it sit for 15 mins or so, it thickens up and "sits" more thickly on the rice and Katsu.

Quick tip: Curry rice is usually eaten with a large spoon, not chopsticks.

About curry made with beef or pork...it does add more flavor. Recipe is same as for chicken, cutting it up in small chunks. One difference: I usually like to let it simmer for at least a few hours, to make the meat vey tender. (If simmering for a while to tenderize the meat, don’t add the potatoes until the very end or they will be over cooked.)

If you make tonkatsu (Katsu with pork cutlets instead of chicken) use boneless pork. Same basic recipe. Pound it thin enough so it can be flash fried and still get cooked all the way through.

That's it!!!!!

Don’t be afraid to make a big batch of curry and have leftovers. One thing about curry, it’s just like chili...it actually tastes better the next day!! :yesnod:

Katsu is usually served two different ways: with curry or with regular katsu sauce.

If you serve your katsu with curry, like I’m doing here, it’s then called katsu curry. You would generally skip the katsu sauce if you are making katsu curry, since the curry becomes your sauce. But you can make katsu without making curry. You would use regular katsu sauce with your chicken or pork katsu, rather than curry.

Mrs. Colleen 03-04-2012 12:10am

That...looks...AMAZING!!! :hurray:

As not-diverse as Santa Barbara is we have a pretty nice Asian market right down the street from us. Looks like I will be making a trip soon! :cert:

NEED-A-VETTE 03-04-2012 12:16am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Colleen (Post 599057)
That...looks...AMAZING!!! :hurray:

As not-diverse as Santa Barbara is we have a pretty nice Asian market right down the street from us. Looks like I will be making a trip soon! :cert:

One pot. Super simple. I just use whatever meat happens to be on sale.

I usually only get the fujukinzuke and curry at the Asian market. They're usually too pricey on meat and veggies, just FYI. Ralph's has Sanderson's Farms boneless, skinless breasts for like $1.99/lb right now. :seasix:

EDIT: You guys may have had the curry at Caitlin's grad party a few years ago.

TCU*Girl 03-04-2012 12:16am

I was very apprehensive to try this curry because I had never had it and never heard of a different kind than Indian curry, but it is really one of my favorite meals now! Definitely my first choice of things to ask for when I go for a visit. I learned how to make it and, really, it is VERY easy!!!

But, then again, pretty much all of the meals NEED-A-VETTE makes are great! :yesnod:

NEED-A-VETTE 03-04-2012 12:20am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCU*Girl (Post 599060)
I was very apprehensive to try this curry because I had never had it and never heard of a different kind than Indian curry, but it is really one of my favorite meals now! Definitely my first choice of things to ask for when I go for a visit. I learned how to make it and, really, it is VERY easy!!!

But, then again, pretty much all of the meals NEED-A-VETTE makes are great! :yesnod:

Awwwwwwwww. :grouphug:

You're a pro at making it on your own now. You've gotten so good at it, you can make this in your sleep. :rofl:

Cybercowboy 03-04-2012 12:45am

Wow, I'm going to have to read this thread sober later! Great job!

NEED-A-VETTE 03-04-2012 12:49am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy (Post 599076)
Wow, I'm going to have to read this thread sober later! Great job!

Thanks! It's by far the one thing almost everyone requests when they come to visit.

island14 03-04-2012 12:57am

I hope it does not take as long to cook it as it did for these HUGE pictures to load on my slow internet connection here.. :lol:

I just had lunch and hungry again already after checking out your post! :yesnod:

We will do the best we can with what we have available to re-create this delicious looking meal! :seasix:


THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT POST!


:hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:


:cert:

NEED-A-VETTE 03-04-2012 1:15am

Quote:

Originally Posted by island14 (Post 599079)
I hope it does not take as long to cook it as it did for these HUGE pictures to load on my slow internet connection here.. :lol:

I just had lunch and hungry again already after checking out your post! :yesnod:

We will do the best we can with what we have available to re-create this delicious looking meal! :seasix:


THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT POST!


:hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:


:cert:

Another good brand is S&B Golden Curry. Seems to be the most popular in Run of the mill grocery stores. If you're not able to find any, I can send you a few boxes. Just let me know. :cheers:

island14 03-04-2012 1:41am

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE (Post 599086)
Another good brand is S&B Golden Curry. Seems to be the most popular in Run of the mill grocery stores. If you're not able to find any, I can send you a few boxes. Just let me know. :cheers:

My wife tells me there is a curry seasoning available here, so I am going to try to see what we can find later today.

We are still in the city for another month, so will be able to find stuff we normally can't on our island.

But just for fun, I think I will get pictures of our market, and how we find foods here in this part of Asia, and also get photos of my wife's Mom's cooking tools, and stove .. :D

And they are soooo envious of your rice cooker! :rofl:

I showed them this thread and they were both really excited to try cooking this your way, (they do things a little different here)



:cert:

Fastguy 03-04-2012 1:43am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy (Post 599076)
Wow, I'm going to have to read this thread sober later! Great job!

Hae12THATS EXTXKT WHAT i AS JUST THINGINFG

NEED-A-VETTE 03-04-2012 2:52am

Quote:

Originally Posted by island14 (Post 599090)
My wife tells me there is a curry seasoning available here, so I am going to try to see what we can find later today.

We are still in the city for another month, so will be able to find stuff we normally can't on our island.

But just for fun, I think I will get pictures of our market, and how we find foods here in this part of Asia, and also get photos of my wife's Mom's cooking tools, and stove .. :D

And they are soooo envious of your rice cooker! :rofl:

I showed them this thread and they were both really excited to try cooking this your way, (they do things a little different here)



:cert:

:cert: Nice!

I love this rice cooker. It's pressurized and has induction heat so it cooks very evenly. The pot that sits in the cooker is nice and thick, too. Zojirushi is the main brand in Japan. I especially like the extended "keep warm" setting. It keeps the rice from drying out and anything that's not eaten within a few days can be turned into fried rice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastguy (Post 599092)
Hae12THATS EXTXKT WHAT i AS JUST THINGINFG

Had I hit up the sake, ^^^ that's probably about what my recipe thread would've looked like. :leaving:

bryanZ06 03-04-2012 6:08am

Looks great! I'll have to try this sometime soon.

CertInsaneC5 03-04-2012 8:22am

I have all the ingredients but the curry. I may just have to make a run to the store today. Good spicy curry would go along way to clear out this sinus infection.

Thanks for taking the time to post this up. :seasix: :cert:

CP 03-04-2012 11:02am

Why is all this stuff in English?? You would think that in Japan, the stuff would be written in Japanese. What's up with that? :confused5:


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