Katsu curry is incredibly popular, with the beloved dish even having its holiday on September 28. Katsu curry includes two vital elements: curry and katsu.
Katsu is a piece of breaded and fried meat. Pork is typically used. The curry is a sauce that tends to be milder in flavor than other curries.
Unfortunately, katsu curry can be high in calories and not very healthy for you. Curries, in general, tend to be more fattening than people expect.
If you're looking for a way to make your favorite dish waistline-friendly, look no further. This guide will discuss how to decrease the calories in katsu curry while retaining the flavor.
Why Is Katsu Curry Unhealthy?
In katsu curry, a piece of meat gets covered in breadcrumbs. The meat is deep-fried, drenched in rice, shredded cabbage, miso soup, and a rich sauce. The calories primarily come from deep-fried meat and curry sauce.
The base of katsu curry sauce is coconut milk. While very creamy and flavorful, one cup of coconut milk includes 445 calories and 48 grams of fat. You might not be consuming an entire cup of coconut milk in a serving of katsu curry, but you'll get a significant portion.
There are many ways to make a katsu curry recipe healthy while enjoying the flavor. In addition to learning how to whip up your favorite meal at home, you'll discover how to make healthy eating choices.
Ways to Cut Calories in Katsu Curry
You can fit any high-fat dish into a balanced diet if you focus on eating natural ingredients and watch your portion sizes. Making simple adjustments can turn a fattening curry dish into something healthy.
Ingredients are essential in curry dishes. Most katsu curry seasoning items, like turmeric and curry powder, don't include any calories.
One way to cut calories in katsu curry is to bread your meat with ground almonds instead of breadcrumbs. You'll still get the same crunch as you would with breadcrumbs without the fat. You should also oven-bake your meat instead of deep frying it on the stovetop.
One of the most quintessential things about katsu curry is its sauce. Katsu curry sauce is tart, salty, fruity, and sweet.
The best way to cut calories in the katsu curry sauce is to omit coconut milk. Instead, you can swap the coconut milk for a rich vegetable or chicken stock. Keep in mind that you won't have the same creaminess or thickness that you might be used to.
You can also use coconut water instead of coconut milk. Coconut water contains around 91 calories and no fat. That's a dramatic difference from the 445 calories in coconut milk.
Another way to make this dish healthier is to use tofu instead of meat. Additionally, you can also slice sweet potatoes, par-boiling them before coating them in the nut mixture.
Interesting Facts About Japanese Curry
Katsu curry is traditionally a Japanese dish. You might not know many things about Japanese curry since Indian curry tends to be more well-known.
Not as Spicy
Japanese curries tend to be more sweet and mild than other curries. If you go to a restaurant, Japanese curry comes in three spice levels:
- Mild
- Medium
- Hot
The sauces in Japanese curry are thick and rich, similar to gravy. The sauces are layered with earthy and sweet flavors.
Rich History
Some historians believe that curry came to Japan over 1,500 years ago when Buddhism arrived. It's more commonly thought that the British navy introduced the dish in the 1850s during the Meiji era. During this period, India was still ruled by Britain.
The British navy made alliances with the Japanese during the Meiji era. Japanese naval officers sampled dishes, including curries, while dining with British officers.
The main difference between Japanese and Indian curry is in the curry powder. Japanese curry uses curry powder that's from a British curry recipe. Indian curry incorporates multiple spices in its curry powder.
Japanese chefs adjusted the curry flavors to suit their palates. Curry gained popularity in the 1960s when supermarkets and restaurants started selling the dish. Before that, curry was reserved for the upper class.
Curry Is a National Dish
Japanese curry is considered to be the country's quintessential spicy dish. It's alongside other favorites, such as miso soup, sushi, and ramen.
Japan Borrowed an Idea From France
Katsu curry sauce is very thick and creamy, not just due to the coconut milk. Japanese curry utilizes a roux in its sauce. Roux is a way to thicken sauces in French cuisine.
A roux enables chefs to make Japanese curries without any lumps.
Military Staple
Japanese naval officers found curry to be tasty. It also fulfilled their nutritional needs.
Many Japanese soldiers suffered from Beriberi, caused by a deficiency in vitamin B1. Japanese soldiers' diets lacked wheat-based foods or bread.
Japanese military chefs made a form of Japanese curry that included wheat. Soldiers' nutritional requirements were met while they enjoyed a tasty dish.
It's now a tradition for Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force soldiers to eat Japanese curry each Friday. Each ship has its curry recipe that they whip up.
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