Japanese Curry Fried Rice

Apr 27, 2022 8:21 PM

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A classic Japanese dish found in the many homes of Japan! This is a “dry curry” fried rice. The curry flavor melds into the bits of chicken and veggies, and of course the rice. Add some raisins to give it a sweet layer of flavor! A truly inexpensive dish with bursting flavors from the curry. All you would need is some sake, plus more to drink with it!

Japan can’t seem to get enough of their curry, and neither can I! I absolutely enjoyed making this dish as well as eating it (which I’m doing right now)! Some Japanese home cooks add raisins for a sweet factor. If you don’t like the heat, feel free to add less curry powder. It’s got some heat to it, but not fire-breathing hot. When you cook this dish, pay attention to the curry powder when you add it. It can burn easily. I would consider this dish a quick lunch, or dinner if you have some veggies to get rid of! Fun fact: Japanese Fried Rice, in some regions, is called Yakimeshi ((焼きめし) or Chahan (チャーハン)!

How to make Japanese Curry Fried Rice

There are plenty of variations of this dish, but the main stars are rice and curry! You can add more veggies or switch the protein. Fried rice is usually made when you have leftovers to get rid of. This recipe requires a lot of attention and stirring.

Chicken Thighs: You want to use boneless chicken thighs. You can swap it out for chicken breasts if you want white meat.
Butter & Olive Oil
Spanish Onion: A yellow onion is fine.
Carrot & Celery
Garlic
Curry Powder
Sake
Cooked White Rice: You can use brown rice if you have some.
Soy Sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Salt & Black Pepper
Parsley

In a wok, heat the butter and oil on high heat. Add the chicken and cook. stirring constantly, for 5 minutes until the chicken is white and no longer pink. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, until the veggies soften. Add the curry powder and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. You want to toast the curry and make sure it doesn’t burn! Add the sake and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add the rice. Break up the lumps of rice and stir constantly. Add the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper and cook for 30 seconds more, stirring constantly. Turn off the heat and plate, sprinkling with the parsley.

I did say this recipe requires a lot of stirring! You don’t want anything to burn since the wok is on high heat.

Tips & FAQs

Add more veggies and switch the protein if you wish. You can add some peas, broccoli, or bell peppers. Switch the protein for some sausage, ground beef, pork, or tofu. You can also add less curry powder if you don’t like too much spice.
Top it off with some Chunou sauce: This sauce is in the same class as tonkatsu sauce and okonomiyaki sauce. It’s a sweet, yet tangy sauce. It’s made from tomatoes, prunes, carrots, apples, onions, and a variety of spices like cinnamon and cloves. If you can’t find it, you can do a 50:50 mix of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. It might be available in your nearest Asian market!
How do you say Curry Fried Rice in Japanese? Fried rice is known as Chahan in Japan, while some regions call it Yakimeshi. Curry Fried Rice is called Curry Chahan.
Can this be made vegan? Substitute the protein for a vegan protein and swap the Worcestershire sauce for a vegan Worcestershire sauce (I think it exists).

Want the recipe? Click print below! Let me know how it came out for you by tagging me on Instagram (@missravenskitchen) and using #missravenskitchen! Follow my Facebook page for updates as well! Let me know if I need to tweak anything.

Servings 4

Author Dani Marcus

Prep time

5 Min

Cook time

10 Min

Total time

15 Min

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