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Japanese Curry Rice

Chicken, potatoes, and carrots in a thick, mildly sweet curry sauce made from S&B Golden Curry roux, served over rice. One of the most-saved 'comfort food for cheap' recipes on TikTok and r/JapaneseFood.

Total Cost $11.14
Per Serving $2.79
Prep 15 min
Cook 40 min
Servings 4
  • chicken
  • rice
  • curry
  • one-pot
  • japanese
  • high-protein

Ingredients

  • 600 g boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks $5.29
  • 300 g dry long-grain white rice $0.75
  • 1 box (112 g) S&B Golden Curry roux, medium heat $2.99
  • 2 medium potatoes (~300 g), peeled and cubed $0.13
  • 2 medium carrots (~200 g), sliced into coins $0.59
  • 1 large onion, cut into rough wedges $1.23
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil $0.13
  • 750 mL water $0.00
  • to taste salt $0.03
  • Recipe total$11.14

Instructions

  1. Cook the rice according to package directions.
  2. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned on all sides — about 5 minutes. It doesn't need to be fully cooked yet.
  4. Add the onion. Cook 3 minutes.
  5. Add potatoes and carrots. Stir to combine.
  6. Pour in the water. Bring to a boil.
  7. Reduce heat to medium-low. Skim any foam from the surface. Simmer 15 minutes until the potatoes and carrots are just tender.
  8. Break the curry roux block into pieces and add to the pot. Stir until fully dissolved.
  9. Simmer on low heat, stirring often, for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens considerably.
  10. Taste and adjust salt. Serve over rice.

Nutrition per Serving

Estimated values per serving.

578 Calories
39g Protein
72g Carbs
14g Fat
4g Fiber
720mg Sodium
~15% DV Iron~6% DV Calcium

Gluten-Free

This recipe can be made gluten-free with substitutions.

  • Replace S&B Golden Curry roux with S&B Golden Curry roux contains wheat flour and is not GF. Substitute with a GF Japanese curry paste (available at Asian grocery stores) or a GF curry powder mix thickened with cornstarch. (GF curry options may add $2–$4 to the total)

Budget Notes

  • S&B Golden Curry roux boxes (112 g) are available at Walmart, T&T Supermarket, and most Ontario Asian grocery stores. The medium heat variety is a safe starting point.
  • Japanese curry is intentionally mild and slightly sweet. It is not the same as Indian curry. Don't substitute Indian curry powder and expect the same result.
  • The sauce thickens significantly as it cools. If reheating leftovers, add a splash of water to loosen it.
  • Adding a grated apple or a tablespoon of honey to the sauce is a common home cook trick for sweetness and balance.