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Yaki Keema Curry (Japanese Baked Curry with Egg & Cheese) • Simply One Cookbook


A baked casserole dish filled with cheesy, golden-brown lasagna inspired by Yaki Keema Curry, topped with melted cheese and sprinkled with chopped fresh parsley, set on a rustic wooden table.

Recipe Highlights

Yaki Keema Curry is my baked twist on basic Japanese curry rice. I layer thick, savory floor meat curry over steamed rice, crack an egg within the middle, and high every part with melty mozzarella earlier than baking till golden and bubbly. It’s easy consolation meals with a café-style presentation that feels additional particular straight from the oven.

  • Cozy Japanese curry rice casserole with a golden, bubbly high
  • Household-friendly and satisfying with egg and cheese
  • Easy pantry components and straightforward steps

Should you love Japanese curry dishes, strive my Japanese Hen Curry, Japanese Beef Curry, and Strain Cooker Japanese Curry recipes subsequent!

A white baking dish filled with cheesy, golden-brown Yaki Keema Curry casserole topped with fresh herbs, with one serving removed; the casserole sits on a wooden table next to a fork, plate, and drink.

What’s Yaki Curry?

Yaki curry (焼きカレー) is a Japanese baked curry made by layering curry sauce over rice, then topping it with cheese and infrequently an egg earlier than baking it within the oven. The result’s a wealthy, comforting meal with a bubbly, golden high and a creamy, savory middle.

It’s usually served piping scorching within the baking dish, much like a gratin. Originating in Moji Port in Fukuoka, yaki curry has grow to be a preferred café-style consolation meals in Japan — consider it as a baked, tacky improve to basic Japanese curry rice. 

Yaki Keema Curry is my model of the dish utilizing Japanese-style Keema Curry.

Substances for Yaki Keema Curry

For the Casserole:

  • cooked Japanese short-grain rice
  • giant egg
  • shredded mozzarella cheese
  • butter
  • Italian parsley

Discover the printable recipe with measurements under.

Soar to Recipe

Easy methods to Make Japanese Baked Curry

  1. Cook dinner the keema. Chop the components and cook dinner the bottom meat and greens. For full particulars and step-by-step directions, see my Keema Curry recipe.
  1. Season. Add the curry roux and seasonings, convey to a boil, then simmer the curry till thick and shiny.
  1. Assemble the casserole. Butter a baking dish and unfold the cooked Japanese short-grain rice evenly on the underside. Spoon the keema curry over the rice.
  1. Prime with egg and cheese. Make a small effectively within the middle and crack within the egg. Sprinkle mozzarella on high.
  1. Bake and serve. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about quarter-hour, till bubbly and frivolously browned. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve scorching.
Namiko Hirasawa Chen

Nami’s Recipe Ideas

These easy ideas will show you how to make Yaki Keema Curry completely each time.

  • Use a scorching pan. Check your chrome steel pan with a drop of water. If it beads and glides, it’s prepared. Wipe it dry earlier than including oil.
  • Crumble the meat effectively. Break up the bottom meat finely so the feel stays even and tender.
  • Simmer till thick. If the keema curry is watery, cook dinner it longer till you possibly can draw a line by means of it with a spatula and see the underside of the pan for two seconds.
  • Butter the dish effectively. This prevents sticking and helps the perimeters brown properly.
  • Serve piping scorching. In Japan, Yaki Keema Curry is loved straight from the oven whereas nonetheless bubbly.

Variations and Customizations

Trying to change issues up? Attempt these simple and engaging concepts!

  • Use a distinct protein. Floor hen or floor lamb works simply as effectively.
  • Make it plant-based. Swap in diced mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, or tofu crumbles.
  • Change the cheese. Attempt provolone, Gruyère, Parmesan, or your favourite melting cheese.
  • Attempt a distinct egg topping. Skip the baked egg and end with a silky Onsen Tamago, fried egg, or boiled egg as an alternative.
  • Enhance the aromatics and spices. Add garam masala, curry powder, floor cumin, turmeric powder, crushed garlic, or cayenne pepper—Sauté with meat for additional depth and taste.
  • Add extra greens. Stir in inexperienced peas or chopped tomatoes for additional colour, fiber, and taste.
  • Garnish with toppings. End with chopped cilantro (coriander) leaves, combined herbs, or plain yogurt.
  • Serve with flatbread. Pair with naan, chapati, paratha, or roti, for a heartier meal.

What to Serve with Yaki Keema Curry

This baked keema recipe pairs effectively with quite a lot of sides. Listed below are a few of my favorites.

  • Japanese Apple Salad Impressed by my mother’s recipe, this salad is cool and refreshing because of the selfmade yogurt dressing.
  • Okra with Ginger Soy Sauce This fast and engaging veggie facet comes collectively in minutes. The ginger soy sauced additionally works fantastically with broccoli or asparagus!
  • Bacon and Corn Miso Soup This satisfying soup strikes an ideal stability of umami and pure sweetness.

Storage and Reheating Ideas

To retailer: Cool Yaki Keema Curry to room temperature. Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days or within the freezer for as much as 1 month. If frozen, thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.

To reheat: Cowl loosely with foil and reheat within the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10–quarter-hour, till warmed by means of. You can even reheat particular person parts within the microwave, although the cheese topping gained’t be crispy.

FAQs

Can I make Yaki Keema Curry forward of time?

Sure. You’ll be able to put together the keema curry and assemble the layers prematurely. Cowl and refrigerate, then add the egg and cheese simply earlier than baking. For the very best texture, bake simply earlier than serving.

Can I take advantage of solely floor beef for Japanese Baked Curry?

Sure. You should utilize all floor beef or all floor pork as an alternative. Utilizing two sorts of meat provides depth, however utilizing only one kind nonetheless offers a wealthy and satisfying taste.

Can I bake Yaki Keema Curry with out the egg?

Sure, it’s completely advantageous to skip the egg when baking. Anybody who prefers can high their serving with a fried egg, onsen tamago, or a halved boiled egg.

I’d love to listen to how yours turned out! 💛 Please depart a star score and remark under to share your expertise. Your suggestions not solely helps Simply One Cookbook but in addition helps different house cooks uncover recipes they will belief.

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To Put together the Substances

  • Finely cube ½ onion: Place it cut-side down and make ¼-inch horizontal cuts towards the foundation, then vertical cuts, and at last slice crosswise evenly.

  • Lower 3 inches carrot into ⅛-inch skinny slices. Lower the slices into skinny sticks, then slice crosswise right into a advantageous cube.

  • Finely chop the leaves of a number of sprigs Italian parsley.

To Cook dinner the Keema Curry

  • Warmth a stainless-steel pan over medium warmth. When it is scorching, add 1 Tbsp impartial oil and swirl to coat. Add the onion and sauté, stirring often.Nami’s Tip: To check in case your chrome steel pan is scorching sufficient, add a drop of water. If it beads and glides, you are good to go. Wipe it dry earlier than including oil. If the water evaporates or scatters, it’s not prepared.
  • Add ¾ lb floor meat (I used beef and pork). Cook dinner, breaking apart the chunks with a wood spatula, till the meat is not pink.

  • Add the carrot.

  • Add 1 cup water. Season with ¼ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt and freshly floor black pepper to style.

  • Cowl and cook dinner for 3 minutes.

  • Add 1 dice Japanese curry roux and let it dissolve.

  • Add 1 Tbsp ketchup and 1 Tbsp tonkatsu sauce and stir to mix. Deliver it again to a simmer for 1–2 minutes. If it is watery, proceed to simmer and scale back the sauce till you possibly can draw a line by means of it with a spatula and see the underside of the pan for two seconds.

To Assemble and Bake

  • Unfold 2 servings cooked Japanese short-grain rice evenly in a buttered 6 × 8-inch (15 × 20 cm) baking dish. Ladle the keema curry on high in a good layer and make a effectively within the middle. Crack 1 giant egg (50 g w/o shell) into the effectively.

  • Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese all around the high. Bake in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for quarter-hour or till the egg is cooked to your liking and the cheese is effervescent and frivolously browned on high.

To Serve

  • Take away from the oven. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Serve scorching (or heat) straight from the baking dish.Nami’s Tip: In Japan, we serve the dish piping scorching, proper out of the oven whereas it’s nonetheless bubbly. If you would like, you possibly can let it relaxation for a couple of minutes and revel in it heat.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @justonecookbook on Instagram so we will see your scrumptious creation!



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