Every time we go to the restaurant chain Wagamama, I cannot resist eating their katsu curry chicken. And for years, I have tried to recreate the exact taste. My husband loves katsu sauce, my kids love katsu sauce – and it always feels like a real treat when we have it at home.
There are many variations but I think this katsu sauce recipe is the most authentic to the one that Wagamama serves. In fact, my son has told me it’s even better. High praise indeed!
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What is in this katsu sauce recipe?
The simplicity of the ingredients is what makes this katsu curry sauce so easy. And while some recipes add coconut milk, I don’t like a creamy taste in my katsu sauce. This one combines the sweet taste of onions and carrots, with lots of garlic and chicken stock. With a touch of honey and soy sauce.
That’s it – really! Sweet, tangy and delicious, you won’t ever look back once you’ve tried it at home. Just to recap, all you need is:
Carrots
Onion
Garlic
Chicken stock
Curry powder
Flour
Soy sauce
Honey
Is this katsu sauce vegan?
If you substitute chicken stock for vegetable stock, and use sugar or maple syrup instead of honey, then yes, this katsu sauce will be suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Serve it with breaded tofu, sweet potato or aubergine as some recipe idea suggestions.
How to make chicken katsu curry
My favourite combination with katsu curry sauce is chicken katsu curry. Get some chicken breasts in between two pieces of clingfilm, and bash the meat until it’s thin. Coat in seasoned flour, then beaten egg and finally, panko breadcrumbs.
Shallow fry in vegetable oil until crispy on both sides and then bake in the oven for 15-20 mins until the chicken is cooked.
We also love to breadcrumb salmon in the same way as above. My kids really love katsu salmon and it’s a great way to get children to up their fish intake and Omega 3. However you choose to serve this katsu curry sauce, the whole family will enjoy it.
Can you keep leftover katsu curry sauce?
Absolutely. I like to make a double batch of katsu curry sauce, as it’s great to freeze and then use for another meal. Pour the sauce into a suitable container and you can freeze it for up to three months. Make sure you defrost the sauce thoroughly before reheating it in a pan over a medium heat or in the microwave.
What to serve with this easy katsu curry sauce
Pour over your chosen protein, then add lashings of rice or noodles and green vegetables including pak choi or a side salad. One of my friends even loves pouring this sauce over lots of chips! You decide, but it’s versatile enough to be enjoyed in whichever way you like.
Katsu sauce recipe just like Wagamama’s
This katsu curry is so full of flavour and just like the real deal – except I think, better. Once you make it at home, it will become a family favourite
Servings 4
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 6 cloves of garlic – chopped
- 1 large onion – chopped
- 1 large carrot – chopped
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 600-800 ml chicken stock or vegetable stock for vegan variation
- 1 tbsp curry powder your choice of strength. I use medium
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce or more if needed
- 1-2 tsps of honey or sugar/maple syrup for vegans. Add more if needed
- 3 tbsp of flour
Instructions
Fry the onions in the vegetable oil until soft – around eight minutes, then add the garlic. Stir for a minute or two. Then add the carrots and cook for a few more minutes.
Add the curry powder and stir well. After cooking through for a few minutes, add the flour a little at a time and continue to combine.
Add the chicken stock a little at a time, whisking well and making sure all the flour is combined and there are no lumps.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally and let the sauce thicken.
Using a stick blender, blitz the ingredients into a smooth sauce. If you don't have a stick blender, you can use a food processor or blender.
Keep stirring the sauce on a low heat and continue to simmer.
Add the soy sauce to season as well as the honey or sugar. You could add salt, but I personally don’t think it needs it as the soy is already salty.
You can add more water if the sauce becomes too thick.
Serve with panko breaded chicken, salmon or pork – or aubergine, tofu and sweet potatoes over rice or noodles. Enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 128kcalFat: 7.6g
Calories: 128kcal
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
Please let me know how this katsu curry sauce recipe turned out for you. Leave a comment below and tag @cooksimplyathome on Instagram. For more recipes do check out my index.
FAQs
The most popular tonkatsu sauce is the Bull-Dog Vegetable & Fruit Sauce (Tonkatsu Sauce). It's easy to recognize the signature bulldog logo on the bottle. You can purchase it on Amazon and Japanese or Asian grocery stores.
What is katsu sauce made of? ›
This sauce is the traditional Japanese accompaniment for tonkatsu — Japanese-style breaded pork cutlets. It's made from a specially balanced blend of applesauce, onion, tomato paste, carrots and traditionally brewed Kikkoman® Soy Sauce that adds flavor to meat and poultry.
What is the difference between katsu sauce and tonkatsu sauce? ›
Short for tonkatsu, katsu sauce is essentially the Japanese equivalent of Western barbecue sauce. It's sweet and tangy with an umami undertone that packs a flavorful punch. You'll usually find it served with pork tonkatsu, a popular dish of breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet with cabbage and rice.
What is the difference between ponzu and katsu sauce? ›
However, tonkatsu and ponzu sauce are similar, but not the same. Ponzu sauce is tangy and sweet, similar to tonkatsu, but relies more heavily on the tart and citrus notes of the lemon. Tonkatsu gets its tang from a mixture of Dijon and ketchup. This is tangy but not a tart or puckering effect like ponzu.
What is the most used sauce in Japan? ›
Shoyu (soy sauce)
Shoyu is the most widely used condiment in Japanese cuisine and found in or added to a large number of dishes. The fermented soybean product adds depth to a dish when cooked together or when used as a dipping sauce like for sushi. There are different types of soy sauce, including light and dark ones.
What's the difference between tonkatsu and katsu? ›
The simplest phonetic translation of "cutlet" to Japanese vocalizations is katsuretsu, which in turn is shortened to katsu. Add ton—the Sino-Japanese word for "pork"—to the front of that and you've got tonkatsu, or breaded fried pork cutlets (not to be confused with tonkotsu, which is pork-based ramen broth). * Got it?
How unhealthy is chicken katsu curry? ›
The curry is a sauce that tends to be milder in flavor than other curries. Unfortunately, katsu curry can be high in calories and not very healthy for you. Curries, in general, tend to be more fattening than people expect. If you're looking for a way to make your favorite dish waistline-friendly, look no further.
Why is chicken katsu so good? ›
Chicken Katsu is a Japanese-style chicken cutlet that is breaded and then fried. It comes out super crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy and tender on the inside. The chicken typically gets served with Tonkatsu Sauce. It's a Japanese sauce that's tangy, rich, and slightly sweet.
What's the red stuff in Katsu curry? ›
A customary item for Japanese curry, f*ckujinzuke (福神漬) is a type of Tsukemono, Japanese pickled vegetables. The pickles are easily recognizable for its eye-catching red color as they sit atop in almost every curry dish.
What sauce is similar to Katsu sauce? ›
If you're a fan of Japanese cuisine, you're likely familiar with katsu sauce. It is typically served alongside dishes like crispy katsu chicken and tonkatsu pork cutlets. The sauce is sweet, savory, and tangy. To me, it is reminiscent of American ketchup or barbecue sauce.
Another advantage of tonkatsu sauce in terms of taste is it's resistant to quality deterioration and oxidization thanks to vinegar, salt, and spices. However, for best quality and longer expiration date, it's recommended to refrigerate tonkatsu sauce once opened.
What cut of pork is best for katsu? ›
There are two main cuts of pork used for tonkatsu: hire-katsu meaning “pork fillet”, and rosu-katsu, meaning “pork roast”. Hire-katsu is made with a lean pork tenderloin, while rosu-katsu uses a richer cut of pork that comes with a strip of fat along the side.
Is Katsu sauce the same as Chinese curry sauce? ›
Sushi, often these restaurants serve Katsu curry, but despite the common misconception katsu refers to the crispy breaded meat or tofu, not necessarily the curry! Japanese curries range in many flavours, but they are not the same as Chinese or Indian curries and have quite a distinguishable taste.
What does Katsu sauce taste like? ›
What Does Tonkatsu Sauce Taste Like? Often referred to as Japanese-style barbecue sauce or katsu sauce. tonkatsu sauce is savory and sweet, with a slight tang. In this recipe, ketchup adds the sugary tartness, while soy sauce and Worcestershire lend some umami power.
Is Katsu sauce the same as curry sauce? ›
In short, the sauce is just Japanese curry. Katsu is not the name of the sauce. The sauce is of course inspired by Indian curries, but it was actually the British who introduced Japan to it, via their colonisation of India at the time.
What is the best fish sauce in Japan? ›
Ishiri from Japan
It is one of Japan's three greatest fish sauces, along with Akita's Shottsuru and Kagawa's Ikanago-shoyu (sand lance sauce). It has only two ingredients—salt and the internal organs of squid.
Is Katsu Curry common in Japan? ›
A very common variation of Japanese curry is katsu kare (カツカレー), which is a dish of regular Japanese curry rice plus a piece of tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) put on top.
Is katsu popular in Japan? ›
Katsu Sando gained popularity in Japan over the years, becoming a staple in Japanese cuisine and a beloved comfort food. It is commonly found in bento boxes, convenience stores, cafes, and even high-end restaurants.
