Japanese Battleship Curry Recipe

 

Japanese battleship curry, also known as "kare" (カレー) in Japanese, is a famous and well-liked meal in the country. It's a distinct curry with a particularly Japanese taste profile that differs greatly from curries found in India or Southeast Asia. Japanese battleship curry is a famous and soothing meal in Japan that is appreciated by people of all ages. Its moderate and accessible spiciness makes it ideal for a wide range of tastes. It's also incredibly adaptable, with many families having their own modifications and preferred items to incorporate in their handmade Japanese curry. The sauce on Japanese battleship curry is thick, softly spicy, and somewhat sweet.

What exactly is "battleship curry?"

You could have realized that the name of our recipe refers to its origin. And that estimate is correct since this arose from a desire to provide troops and sailors with the sustenance they require. To avoid vitamin deficiency, the Japanese navy began to serve a British-style curry with beef, vegetables, and a curry sauce. This would ensure that they get adequate thiamine.

Even after WWII ended, the desire for this dish persisted among former military personnel. To satiate the need, curry was provided in a variety of eateries. Because of its popularity, each navy ship was said to have its own distinct curry recipe. One of those modifications is what we'll be doing today! Instead of pork, we'll use thinly sliced beef for something soft and tasty.

How to Cook Japanese Curry (Battleship Style)

1. Adding seasoning to the meat slices

First and foremost, we must prepare the meat for our curry recipe. Begin with gaining two pounds. thinly sliced beef, then seasoning it with salt and ground black pepper. Add as much as you like, but try not to go crazy so that we don't end up with too salty meat. Set this aside for the time being.

2. Cooking your meat in a skillet

In a cooking saucepan, heat 2 teaspoons of cooking oil. Turn on the heat and wait for it to get hot. After that, add 1 tablespoon of butter and melt it. Then take your previous beef pieces and stir-fry them with your oil and butter. When the beef has become a light brown color, stir in 2 chopped yellow onions and 3 sliced garlic cloves. 1 minute in a hot pan.

3. Carrots are being cooked.

Place the two carrots that you've chopped in the saucepan. Continue to heat everything while sometimes stirring the mixture. We'll keep this running for another 2 minutes.

4. Allowing the mixture to simmer before seasoning it

Pour 3 cups of water into your pot immediately. We'll just keep the heat on and wait for things to boil. After that, add 1 Knorr beef cube, 4 tablespoons curry powder, 3 tablespoons tomato ketchup, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, and 3 teaspoons honey. Then, on top of the pot, lay the lid. We'll let this to boil for 20 minutes.

5. Potatoes, cornstarch, and water are added.

We will add the potatoes to the saucepan at the end of the cooking process to prevent them from breaking down while keeping them firm. That being stated, you may now incorporate the two diced potatoes into the recipe. Then simply continue to boil for another 12 minutes. While you wait, in a clean container, combine 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water. Once these are fully combined, pour your mixture into the saucepan. Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl.

6. Incorporating cheese and coffee

You could think that combining these two ingredients in our curry meal is unusual. But it is precisely these ingredients that make our Japanese Curry more richer, since the cheese adds a layer of depth. Meanwhile, coffee is ideal for a slight bitterness. Simply combine 14 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 12 cup coffee in a mixing bowl. Then, to taste, season with salt and crushed black pepper.

Here's a basic recipe for making Japanese Battleship Curry:

Ingredients:

- 2 lbs. thinly sliced beef

- 1 beef cube, Knorr

- 2 diced potatoes

- 2 sliced carrots

- 4 tbsp. curry powder

- 3 tablespoons tomato ketchup

- 3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

- 3 tablespoons honey

- 2 chopped yellow onions

- 3 chopped garlic cloves

- 3 cups water

- 1 teaspoon cornstarch

- 1/2 cup of coffee

- 2 tbsp. oil for cooking

- 1 tablespoon melted butter

- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated

- To taste, season with salt and black pepper.

Instructions:

1. Sauté Aromatics:

   - In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until the onion and garlic are transparent and aromatic.

2. Add Vegetables:

   - To the saucepan, add the chopped carrots and potatoes (and with any other veggies you prefer). Cook for a few minutes to coat them with oil.

3. Make the Curry Base:

   - Stir the curry powder into the sautéed veggies to coat them. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes to gently roast the curry powder.

   - If using grated apple for sweetness, stir it into the saucepan.

4. Pour in Water or Broth:

   - While stirring, gradually add the water or chicken broth to the saucepan. This will serve as the foundation for your curry sauce.

   - Combine the bay leaves and soy sauce in a mixing bowl.

5. Simmer:

   - Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower to a low heat and allow it to simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the veggies are soft.

6. Add Protein (Chicken or Beef):

   - If using chicken or beef, add the meat to the saucepan and simmer until well cooked.

7. Season:

   - Season the curry sauce to taste with salt, sugar, and more soy sauce. Taste and adjust the tastes to your satisfaction. If you like a sweeter curry, add more tomato ketchup.

8. Serve:

   - Take the bay leaves out of the curry sauce.

   - Serve the Japanese Battleship Curry immediately with steaming rice.

   - To enhance flavor and texture, top with boiled eggs, pickled radish, or fried shallots.

   - Cheese and coffee are optional. 

- Enjoy your homemade Japanese Battleship Curry!