RECIPE

VEGAN KATSU CURRY

With a crispy plant-based cutlet smothered in a savory/sweet/spicy Japanese curry sauce, this vegan katsu curry is brimming with so much texture and flavor that no one will miss the meat.

INGREDIENTS

- 1 batch tofu katsu - 2 servings cooked Japanese rice - 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock - 2 tablespoons soy sauce - 2 tablespoons tomato paste - 2 tablespoon date syrup - 1 teaspoon cocoa powder - 1 tablespoon potato starch - 200 grams onion - 120 grams carrot  - 15 grams garlic - 15 grams ginger (peeled) - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda - 2 tablespoon vegetable oil - 14 grams Japanese curry powder - 80 grams mild green peppers - 80 grams red bell peppers  - 150 grams kabocha  - 150 grams Japanese eggplant

1

Cut the kabocha into thin slices. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and score the skin-side. Cut the peppers into thick strips and remove the seeds. 

CUT VEGETABLES

2

Whisk the vegetable stock, soy sauce, tomato paste, date syrup, cocoa powder, and potato starch together in a bowl. 

MIX CURRY SEASONINGS

3

Puree the onions, carrots, garlic and ginger in a food processor. 

PUREE AROMATICS

4

Dump the puree into a non-stick frying pan and stir in the baking soda.

MIX IN BAKING SODA

5

Cook the puree over medium-high heat to boil off the excess water (5-6 minutes).

COOK PUREE

6

Add the oil and fry the puree until it's very thick and glossy. 

CARAMELIZE PUREE

7

Add the curry powder and stir it into the caramelized vegetables to toast it. 

TOAST CURRY

8

Add the vegetable stock and seasoning mixture and stir to combine. Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer while you fry the vegetables and katsu.

ADD STOCK MIXTURE

9

Fry the vegetables in oil that has been preheated to 340°F (170°C). The kabocha takes 2-3 min. The eggplant takes 1.5 min. The peppers take 30 seconds to 1 min.

FRY VEGETABLES

10

Fry the tofu katsu according to the recipe below:

FRY TOFU KATSU

11

Slice the katsu and serve on a bed of rice with the fried vegetables and curry sauce. 

PLATE