Instant Pot Japanese Beef Curry Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2024)

April 27, 2018Van

Instant Pot Japanese Beef Curry Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (1)

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Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 24 minutes

Serves: 6

Japanese Curry is a huge hit in my household. We usually make the Chicken Katsu Curry (recipe here), but this week I changed things up and made a delectable beef curry – which is the most popular curry dish in Japan.

The immediate difference when using beef is the richness in the flavor. All that beefy, rich flavor is embedded in the subtly sweet curry – it’s actually very similar to beef stew and shares many of the same ingredients. My youngsters all had two helpings—which made mom and dad happy since this dish is packed with everything you need for good health; In fact-the Japanese navy originally adopted this dish from the British Navy to avoid Vitamin B Deficiency!

We usually top this with some ichimi togarashi for a bit of spice—but recently we discovered “Sansyo” pepper topping which has a very zesty lemon flavor that goes wonderfully in moderation on this rich beef curry. Give it a try-this is a hearty dish that accepts additional condiments rather well.

Instant Pot Japanese Beef Curry Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2)

Instant Pot Japanese Beef Curry Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (3)

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Instant Pot Japanese Beef Curry Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (4)

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Instant Pot Japanese Beef Curry Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (5)

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April 27, 2018Van

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 24 minutes
  • Serves: 6

www.foodisafourletterword.com

Ingredients

  • 1 8.4 oz Box of S&B Golden Curry Sauce Mix
  • 2 Pounds Stew Meat or Chuck Roast, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1 Large Yellow Onion, diced
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 4 Medium Russet Potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 4 Carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • 6 Cups Water
  • Cooked Short Grain Rice for 6 servings

*OPTIONAL Ingredients

  • 1 Teaspoon Soy Sauce
  • 2 Teaspoons Ketchup
  • 2 Teaspoons Apricot Jam
  • ½ Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • f*ckujinzuke, (Japanese Pickled Daikon)
  • Togarashi, (Japanese Red Chili Pepper Powder)
  • Sansyo, (Ground Japanese Sansho Pepper)

Method

  • 1)

    Press Sauté on the Instant Pot and choose More/High heat setting. Once the pot displays Hot, add 1 Tablespoons of Butter to the Pot then brown the beef cubes on all sides for a few minutes.

  • 2)

    Add the diced Onions and Minced garlic and sauté for another minute. Pour in 6 Cups of Water and any of these optional seasonings (1 Teaspoon of Soy Sauce, 2 Teaspoons of Ketchup, 2 Teaspoons of Apricot Jam and ½ Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce). Scrape the bottom of your pot well.

  • 3)

    Seal the Instant Pot lid, switch the knob to Sealing and press Cancel on your Instant Pot to turn off Sauté mode. Choose High Pressure / Manual and set for 22 Minutes, once the timer is up wait 10 Minutes then switch the knob to Venting to release the steam.

  • 4)

    Once the pin drops, open your lid and add the Potatoes and Carrots, give it a stir and seal the Instant Pot lid and switch the knob to Sealing. Choose High Pressure / Manual and set for 2 Minutes – once the timer is up, wait 1 minute then switch the knob to Venting to do a quick release of the steam. Once the pin drops, open your lid.

  • 5)

    Break up the curry roux blocks, I cut them up into smaller pieces so they dissolve easier. Place the roux into the Instant Pot and stir until the roux is completely dissolved and the sauce is thick and velvety.

  • 6)

    Serve with short grain rice or over udon noodles. Garnish with f*ckujinzuke, Togarashi or Sansyo. Enjoy!

↓ Supplies to make this recipe ↓

11 Comments

  • IPnewbie

    January 15, 2019 at 10:44 pm

    Thank you for the recipe – this was delicious! The times were perfect to make everything tender without disintegrating. I added some turnips since I love them. Had to halve the recipe for my Mini and the curry box I had was less than half of the quantity you specified, so the curry flavor was just a touch less rich than I’m accustomed to.

    Reply

  • Jennifer

    November 5, 2020 at 11:52 am

    Six cups of water seems like an awful lot – is that correct? Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Van

      November 5, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      Hi Jennifer, yes 6 cups of water is correct. If you look at the instructions in the back of the curry box, it actually tells you to add 6 cups of water.

      Reply

      1. Jennifer

        November 5, 2020 at 1:59 pm

        Perfect, thank you so much!

        Reply

  • Laurie

    December 26, 2020 at 1:52 pm

    Can’t wait to try this! What would the cooking time and release time be if I am omitting the meat?

    1. Van

      December 26, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      Hi Laurie, if you’re just cooking the vegetables, 4 Minutes High Pressure then Quick Release is all you would need.

      Reply

  • Alan

    April 24, 2021 at 5:52 pm

    This recipe had too much water was not thick enough. I think the pressure cooking action on the meat and onions released liquid. The potato mostly disintegrated. I would recommend using 5 cups of water. I will try this recipe again bringing the pot to pressure after adding the potato and carrots and then releasing right afterward. It has promise for a nice weekend dinner that leaves leftovers for lunches. Needs a little tweaking.

    Reply

  • Derek

    May 27, 2021 at 7:13 pm

    Waaaaaay too much water.

    Reply

  • Christina

    March 26, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    You probably didn’t cut the potatoes too small. My quartered potatoes were cooked perfectly.

    Reply

  • Lola

    August 27, 2023 at 11:06 am

    Thank you for the awesome recipe! Your cooking times were spot on, every other recipe had the potatoes and carrots in with the meat and they disintegrated but your separate additions were perfect! I did add minced ginger for the additional flavour but otherwise everything was perfect. To those that say there is too much water, the recipe reflects the water amount on the box – you may need to bring the sauce to a boil to activate the corn starch and thicken your sauce. I had to let my sauce simmer for 5 mins after adding the cubes to get the right consistency.

    Thank you again ☺️

    Reply

  • Sheila

    September 25, 2023 at 9:25 pm

    Used goat meat. Pounded stew sized goat meat with mallet. Put in a pot to boil on stove first. Removed all foam on top to take out excess blood. Simmered covered for about 30 minutes.
    Also, used smaller size of curry block and added some curry powder and chili powder.
    Came out perfect. Meat was so tender, vegetables were cooked to perfection and taste was just right.

    Reply

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Instant Pot Japanese Beef Curry Recipe – FOOD is Four Letter Word (2024)

FAQs

What is Japanese curry called? ›

Japanese curry (カレー, karē) is a dish that is hugely popular in Japan. It is readily available at various restaurants, and many households cook it at home too. As the curry is usually served with rice, you would hear the term "curry rice" (カレーライス, karē raisu) mentioned often.

What is Kare raisu in Japanese? ›

The most popular way to serve it is spooned into a bowl with a generous mound of warm short-grain rice, making what the Japanese call kare raisu, "curry rice."

What cut of beef is used for Japanese curry? ›

Beef chuck or shoulder: These cuts are commonly used in Japanese curry due to their balance of tenderness and robust flavor. They break down beautifully during cooking, infusing the curry with their rich taste.

Why is curry popular in Japan? ›

It is hypothesized that curry became popular in Japan because the Imperial Japanese Navy, modeled after the British Navy, adopted it as a menu item for its ship's mess, or because it was on the menu of the Imperial Japanese Army's mess hall.

What is the most popular food in Japan curry? ›

The most popular curry dish in Japan, katsu kare, consists of a deep-fried, breaded cutlet (katsu) served over rice with a thick, fragrant sauce. The cutlet is typically made with pork or chicken, and the sauce contains a variety of spices, including turmeric, cumin, and ginger.

What is traditional Japanese curry? ›

Japanese curry is a thick curry with a stew-like consistency and commonly includes protein, sweet onions, carrots, and potatoes. The sauce is thickened by a roux (a mixture of fat and flour and an addition of curry spices).

What is the Japanese name for Katsu curry? ›

Katsu curry (Japanese: カツカレー, romanized: katsukarē) is a Japanese dish consisting of a pork cutlet (tonkatsu) served with a portion of Japanese rice and curry. It is served on a large plate and is typically eaten using a spoon or fork.

Why is it called Vermont Curry? ›

The origin of "Vermont" in Vermont Curry dates back to a book entitled "Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health." The book sparked a health fad that included drinking a mixture of apple cider vinegar and honey.

What thickens Japanese curry? ›

For each cup of liquid, you want to thicken, start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mix equal amount of cold liquid and stir until smooth paste forms. Then, whisk the slurry into the hot, simmering liquid that you want to thicken. Bring to a boil and simmer until any starchy taste has been cooked away.

What do you call Japanese beef? ›

Wagyu - a Japanese beef cattle breed – derived from native Asian cattle. 'Wagyu' refers to all Japanese beef cattle, where 'Wa' means Japanese and 'gyu' means cow.

What are the three types of Japanese beef? ›

Japan's "top three" wagyu brands — specifically Matsusaka Ushi, Kobe Beef, and Ohmi Beef — all hail from the Kansai region of Japan. While their bloodlines all trace their origins to Tajima beef, a subspecies of Japanese Black cattle from Hyogo Prefecture, each of these wagyu brands boasts a unique flavor profile.

Is Japanese curry junk food? ›

To say it in simpler words, Japanese curry is not a much healthy meal since it is not nutritionally balanced. Depending on the ingredients, it may contain more than 500 calories and more sodium than anyone should consume in a month.

Why is Japanese curry black? ›

The blackness of the curry comes from the many hours it takes to cook down each of the individual ingredient components until they take on that color — for the onions to get as dark and caramelized as Ono wants them to be, and for the flour roux and the spices to also develop that black hue.

What to put inside Japanese curry? ›

What Do You Put in Japanese Curry? Typically, curry rice consists of onions, carrots, potatoes and beef. That's the classic combination and the most popular one used across Japan.

What type of curry is Japanese curry? ›

Japanese curry is a thick curry with a stew-like consistency and commonly includes protein, sweet onions, carrots, and potatoes. The sauce is thickened by a roux (a mixture of fat and flour and an addition of curry spices).

What is Japanese curry powder called? ›

S&B Foods makes the most famous Japanese curry powder. Called Aka Kan (赤缶, literally “Red Tin”), it was first sold by S&B Foods in 1923, and since then, it holds more than 80% of the market share in Japan. S&B's curry powder is made of over 30 kinds of roasted, powdered, blended, and aged spices.

Is Korean curry the same as Japanese curry? ›

Korean curry has similar ingredients and methods of preparation as Japanese curry but is notably spicier (and tends to be a bit heavier on the garlic). Korean curries utilize a roux as their foundation like Japanese curries to get its thick consistency.

Is golden curry the same as Japanese curry? ›

S&B Golden Curry is a boxed form of Japanese curry, a dish that's extremely popular in Japan and Korea. While curry sauce mixes can often be found in powder form, S&B Golden Curry Sauce Mix comes in a bar, similar to a chocolate bar, with squares meant to be broken apart.

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