Japanese Curry (Kare Raisu)
Japanese Curry (Kare Raisu) is a medium Japanese recipe that serves 4. 420 calories per serving. Recipe by J. Kenji López-Alt on YouTube.
Prep: 20 min | Cook: 40 min | Total: 1 hr 15 min
Cost: $10.22 total, $2.55 per serving
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons Clarified Butter (fat only, no milk proteins; can substitute regular unsalted butter or ghee)
- 1 pound Chicken Breast (skinless, boneless, diced into bite‑size pieces)
- 2 medium Yukon Gold Potato (peeled and cubed)
- 1 large Carrot (peeled and sliced)
- 0.5 medium Onion (sliced into chunky slivers)
- 3 cloves Garlic (smashed and minced)
- 1 inch Fresh Ginger (peeled and thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons Japanese Curry Powder (SMB brand or any Japanese‑style curry blend)
- 4 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour (for the roux)
- 4 cups Chicken Stock (low‑sodium; can use store‑bought or homemade)
- 2 teaspoons Honey (adds subtle sweetness)
- 2 tablespoons Raisins (optional, adds texture and sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
- 0.5 teaspoon Black Pepper (freshly ground, or to taste)
- a pinch MSG (optional, boosts umami)
- 0.5 cup Frozen Peas (added at the end for color and sweetness)
- 2 tablespoons Chinese Chives (thinly sliced, garnish)
Instructions
Prep All Ingredients
Dice the chicken breast, peel and cube the potatoes, slice the carrot, slice the onion into chunky slivers, smash and mince the garlic, peel and thinly slice the ginger.
Time: PT15M
Melt Clarified Butter
Add the clarified butter to the skillet over medium heat and let it melt completely.
Time: PT2M
Sear the Chicken
Add the diced chicken to the hot butter and sear, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are lightly browned on all sides.
Time: PT5M
Sauté Onion
Add the sliced onion to the skillet and cook, stirring, until it becomes translucent and just starts to turn golden.
Time: PT5M
Add Garlic and Ginger
Stir in the minced garlic and sliced ginger and sauté for about 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Time: PT2M
Create the Curry Roux
Sprinkle the Japanese curry powder and flour over the aromatics, stirring constantly to form a roux. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the mixture turns a light golden‑brown and smells toasted.
Time: PT3M
Incorporate Chicken Stock
Gradually whisk in the chicken stock, adding a little at a time, until the roux is fully incorporated and the sauce is smooth.
Time: PT5M
Add Potatoes and Carrots
Stir the cubed potatoes and sliced carrots into the pot, bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Time: PT5M
Simmer Until Tender
Cover partially and let the curry simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes and carrots are fork‑tender.
Time: PT15M
Season and Sweeten
Stir in the honey, raisins, salt, pepper, and a pinch of MSG. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Time: PT2M
Finish with Peas
Add the frozen peas, cook for another 2 minutes until heated through.
Time: PT2M
Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle chopped Chinese chives over the curry and serve hot over steamed rice.
Time: PT2M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 420
- Protein
- 28 g
- Carbohydrates
- 45 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
Dietary info: Can be made gluten‑free with GF flour, Can be dairy‑free by using oil instead of butter, Low‑sodium if reduced‑salt stock is used
Allergens: Dairy, Gluten, Honey
Last updated: April 13, 2026








