Vegan Katsu Curry Recipe with Tempeh - Romy London (2024)

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Delicious Vegan Katsu Curry made with crunchy tempeh 'steaks' and a flavoursome homemade katsu curry sauce.

Vegan Katsu Curry Recipe with Tempeh - Romy London (1)

What you'll love about this recipe:

  • it's 100% vegan
  • the recipe is super easy to make and only takes about 15 minutes to prepare
  • the addition of tempeh adds protein to this dish
  • the sauce is full of flavour and more-ish, with added nutritional benefits from the veg
  • you can make this recipe gluten free easily, by swapping out the panko breadcrumbs for a gluten-free version
  • the sauce can be made in advance and frozen in portion sizes until you need it

Tempeh Katsu Curry Recipe (Vegan)

Dinner goals are served right up with this Vegan Katsu Curry! I can't believe it's taken me so long to create my own katsu recipe for the blog - after all, it's been one of my go-to meals since Wagamama's launched their vegan menu (it's honestly divine!). On another note, also the Wasabi Take-Away Pumpkin Katsu is one of my regular supermarket pickups - for those eves after a long day of work, when I can't be bothered to cook from scratch (yes, those days do happen).

So all in all, it's a miracle that it's taken until now for me to share a vegan katsu curry recipe with you, but here we are!

Vegan Katsu Curry Recipe with Tempeh - Romy London (2)

Katsu Curry is traditionally a Japanese Curry, served with a fried panko protein and a 'Tonkatsu' Sauce that is created with a thick vegetarian pureed fruit-based brown sauce. Aside from the tasty & flavourful tonkatsu sauce, my favourite part about the katsu curry is the crunchy addition on top! For their vegan version Wagamama coat either vegetables or a Seitan steak in panko breadcrumbs, which is then fried. On the other hand, Wasabi coat little discs of pumpkin in panko for an extra crunch in the dish.

For my 'katsu style' recipe I've used tempeh as I find it adds a perfect bite to the recipe, not to mention some extra protein! For my sauce, I've blended carrots, onion and garlic alongside some punch-packing spices and coconut cream for an extra smooth finish.

Please note that this vegan katsu recipe is in no way an authentic representation of a traditional katsu recipe, but simply my own interpretation bringing out the flavours I enjoy the most and using only simple supermarket ingredients. So all in all, it's an easy-to-make recipe at home that packs a whole lot of flavour!

Ingredients

Get your pen at the ready and write your shopping list to make this vegan katsu curry! Here's what you need:

  • tempeh: I love using the plain block from Tiba Tempeh
  • panko breadcrumbs
  • plain flour
  • curry powder
  • plant milk
  • yellow onion
  • carrots
  • garam masala
  • garlic cloves
  • vegetable stock cube
  • coconut cream
  • salt & pepper to taste

Other

  • oil to fry: make sure to use an oil with a high smoke point, I usually stick to rapeseed or avocado oil
  • cooked rice to serve, basmati is a great choice!
  • sesame seeds & chilli flakes to garnish

Equipment

  • blender
  • oven & baking tray

Instructions (Step-by-Step)

There are 3 main aspects to this recipe: the rice, the tonkatsu style sauce and the crunchy tempeh.

The rice

The simplest part! Simply serve with your favourite rice and prepare according to packaging instructions. I usually have some white basmati in my pantry, so this is what I like to use. I also usually ignore the packaging instructions (naughty me!) and instead wash the rice, then heat a 1:2 rice to water ratio on the stove until boiling, reduce the heat to a minimum and place a lid on top, then allow for the rice to do its thing until fully cooked. Without opening the lid (that's an important part!)! Creates fluffy rice each time. Of course, if you own a rice cooker, go for that.

The tempeh

I like to use the plain Tiba Tempeh block for this recipe. Simply cut it into discs of about 1 cm thickness, then prepare the batter and the panko mix in 2 separate bowls. For the batter, combine curry powder, plain flour and plant milk (see amounts below!) and whisk until smooth. In another bowl, place your panko breadcrumbs.

Heat a little oil in a large non-stick pan. Dip each tempeh disc into the batter, allow for any access to drip off for 5-10 seconds, then pop it into the panko breadcrumbs and place it into the hot oil over medium/high heat. Flip after 1-2 minutes or when the bottom begins to brown and remove from the pan once both sides are golden and crunchy. Place onto a kitchen towel to remove any access oil.

Optional: You can serve the tempeh discs whole or sliced (see pictures) - the sliced version is probably the easier serving option.

The sauce

The sauce is easy to create: simply cook the onion in a little oil until softened, in the meantime cook or steam the carrots until soft, then combine all sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Easy peasy!

Vegan Katsu Curry Recipe with Tempeh - Romy London (4)

How to make this recipe gluten free

In the traditional recipe, panko breadcrumbs are used, which are the main factor why the traditional recipe is not gluten-free.

To make the recipe gluten-free you can of course swap the panko for some regular gluten-free breadcrumbs one to one.

However, I would definitely recommend using panko style breadcrumbs as they create the perfectly thick and crisp, crunchy layer on the outside of your tempeh. I have found that gluten-free panko is not easy to get by in UK supermarkets, however, I've had a quick google and found that there are indeed a bunch of gluten-free versions - the brand Kikkoman actually sells a gluten-free version, spotted on eBay Uk.

You can even make your own gluten-free panko at home, check out this recipe & description from Flour Farm: https://flour.farm/gluten-free-panko/

You might also enjoy these recipes:

If you love cooking with tempeh, you might also enjoy my Tempeh Pad Thai or my Tempeh Nasi Goreng! If curries are your thing, try my Red Pepper Dhal, or my Creamy Butter Bean Curry.

  • Tempeh Nasi Goreng
  • Tempeh Pad Thai
  • Vegan Peanut Noodles
  • Simple Sesame Noodles (Vegan and High Protein)

📌 If you love Pinterest you can pin any of the images to your boards!

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Vegan Katsu Curry Recipe with Tempeh - Romy London (9)

Tempeh Katsu Curry

4.5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: romylondonuk
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 3-4 1x
  • Category: Curry
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Asian
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Delicious Vegan Katsu Curry made with crunchy tempeh 'steaks' and a flavoursome homemade katsu curry sauce - easy to re-create at home!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 200 g tempeh
  • 5-6 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs
  • oil to fry
  • cooked rice to serve
  • sesame seeds & chili flakes to garnish

For the flour mix:

  • 4 tbsp plain flour
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 100 ml plant milk

For the sauce:

  • 1 shallot or small yellow onion, cooked
  • 2 carrots, cooked
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp plain flour
  • 350 ml vegetable stock
  • 2 tbsp coconut cream
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Start by cutting the tempeh into slices of about 1cm thickness.
  2. Prepare the flour mix in a small bowl and place the panko breadcrumbs into another bowl. Pre-heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan.
  3. Dip all your tempeh slices into the flour mixture, gently drip off the excess and then carefully coat them in the breadcrumbs. Place them in your frying pan and fry them until golden on both sides. Be gentle with them and move them as little as possible once they’re in the pan. Place them in the oven to keep them warm at a low heat, whilst you’re preparing the Katsu sauce.
  4. For the sauce, cook the onion in a little oil until softened. Cook or steam the carrots until soft, then combine all sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
  5. Serve your Katsu sauce with the tempeh steaks and rice and garnish with sesame seeds & chilli flakes.

Keywords: tempeh curry, vegan katsu curry, tempeh katsu curry, katsu curry recipe, tempeh katsu recipe, vegan curry recipe, vegan katsu curry

Love tempeh? Well, me too! Check out my other recipes served with tempeh here:

  • Spicy Swede Soup
  • Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta

© 2024 Romy London / Romina Callwitz | All images, videos, wordings and content are copyright protected and belong to Romina Callwitz. Please do not use any of my content without prior permission. If you wish to re-publish any (part of my) content, please get in touch via email. Thanks for your support!

Vegan Katsu Curry Recipe with Tempeh - Romy London (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan katsu curry made of? ›

This vegan katsu curry combines crispy breaded tofu and a creamy coconut curry sauce to create a Japanese inspired meal that you will love. This vegan katsu curry is simply delicious! It's easy enough to make on a regular week night, but looks fancy enough to serve at any dinner party.

What is the difference between Japanese curry and katsu curry? ›

Along with the sauce, a wide variety of vegetables and meats are used to make Japanese curry. The basic vegetables are onions, carrots, and potatoes. Beef, pork, and chicken are the most popular meat choices. Katsu curry is a breaded deep-fried cutlet (tonkatsu; usually pork or chicken) with Japanese curry sauce.

Why is katsu curry so good? ›

It's a sweeter, richer flavour thanks to the variety of spices used and the soft onion and garlic flavours. The sweet flavours are enhanced by using soy sauce, bringing a delicious more-ish flavour to the dish. One of the great allures of katsu curry is the crispy texture.

What is the difference between katsu and 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 is the pink thing that comes with katsu curry? ›

Love these Sakurazuke - pink pickled daikon mooli radish slices - really unusual sweet & sour / tangy flavour with a satsifying crunch. I tend to pop them on a Katsu curry, stir-fried noodles or ramen noodles with a Yutaka instant bonito miso soup broth (very lean but un-authentic!) or to accompany sushi.

What is the red stuff on katsu curry? ›

What is Fukujinzuke. A customary item for Japanese curry, Fukujinzuke (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.

Why is Japanese curry so addicting? ›

The stand-out feature of a Japanese curry is its thick, rich sauce. The thickness of the sauce which can only be found in Japanese curry is supported and beloved by many. The rich and indulgent sauce mixes with rice so perfectly, you will find it difficult stoping eating.

Is chicken katsu curry unhealthy? ›

Tonkatsu or katsu curry

Tonkatsu could be a dangerous food if you eat batter-fat one with lots of rice and dipping sauce. It's a carb and fat bomb. Curry contains flour and lots of sodium, so the combo of katsu and curry is even more dangerous even though it's really addictive.

Why do they call a katsu curry? ›

The dish was originally called Katsuretsu Curry which we now know as Katsu Curry. The word katsu, which simply means “fried cutlet” in Japanese, is a piece of breaded fried meat.

Do Japanese people eat katsu curry? ›

The Japanese absolutely love curry and deep-fried food. So, it only makes sense that we pair the two together for a hearty and scrumptious dish like this Katsu Curry (カツカレー). Don't be surprised when I tell you there are so many paths to put this popular curry rice together!

Why is my katsu curry bitter? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish. You see, the secret to cooking a delicious curry recipe is to create a spicy paste and slowly cook it before adding your meat.

What to eat with katsu curry? ›

Classic Pairs
  • White Rice. Simple's boiled white rice is an easy addition to katsu curry, perfect if you are in a rush on a budget.
  • Steamed Jasmine Rice. ...
  • Pickled Ginger. ...
  • Shredded Cabbage Salad with Sesame Dressing. ...
  • Garlic Naan. ...
  • Japanese Potato Salad. ...
  • Tempura Vegetables. ...
  • Kimchi.
Mar 25, 2024

What is a substitute for katsu sauce? ›

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup.
  • 2 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
  • 1 ½ teaspoons oyster sauce.
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar.

Does katsu curry taste like chip shop curry? ›

Good katsu (the breaded and fried part) delivers texture as the universally loved fried chicken, while the curry sauce is warmly spiced and reminiscent of our chip-shop favourite.

Why is katsu chicken pink? ›

The pink color in the meat of safely cooked chicken is particularly common in young birds. The bones of younger chickens are more permeable than older animals, which can allow the bone marrow to leak into the surrounding meat and produce a pink color.

What is a katsu curry made of? ›

Katsu curry (カツカレー) is a combination of Japanese curry and a crispy cutlet (called katsu in Japanese) coated in panko breadcrumbs all served over steamed Japanese rice. It's the ultimate comfort food when you crave a big, hearty meal.

What is vegan curry made of? ›

Cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and red bell peppers – Curry is a great clean-out-your-fridge meal, which means you can use the vegetables listed in the recipe card or whatever is available in your fridge. Both fresh and frozen vegetables work well. Canned lentils – This is the main protein in the curry.

What is katsu usually made of? ›

Katsu is a Japanese dish of crispy fried cutlets coated with Panko bread crumbs. Popular varieties are chicken katsu (like this recipe) and tonkatsu (which is made with pork).

Is S&B Japanese curry vegan? ›

Our go-to brand for Japanese curry cubes is S&B Golden Curry. I love these because they're vegan-friendly and widely available. You can find them at popular stores such as Target, Walmart, and Kroger.

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