Imagine coming home to a kitchen filled with the rich, aromatic scent of Japanese curry that's been slowly simmering all day - tender beef melting in your mouth, vegetables perfectly cooked, and a sauce so deeply flavored it'll make your taste buds dance! This Slow Cooker Japanese Beef Curry is not just a meal, it's a culinary adventure that brings the comforting warmth of Japanese home cooking right to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins
Cuisine: Japanese
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef chuck, cubed
- 2 onions, sliced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 potatoes, cubed
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the beef chuck by cutting it into 1-inch cubes, trimming any excess fat. Pat the meat dry with paper towels to ensure better browning.
- Season the beef cubes generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a small amount of oil. Brown the beef cubes in batches, ensuring each piece develops a deep golden-brown crust. Transfer browned meat to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, sauté sliced onions until they become translucent and slightly caramelized, about 5-6 minutes. This will enhance the depth of flavor in the curry.
- Add sliced carrots and cubed potatoes to the slow cooker along with the browned beef and sautéed onions.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, curry powder, and sugar until well combined. Pour this mixture over the meat and vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to low heat. Cook for 7-8 hours, allowing the beef to become tender and the flavors to meld together.
- About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or curry powder if needed.
- Once cooking is complete, the beef should be fork-tender and the sauce rich and slightly thickened. Serve hot over steamed white rice.
Tips
- Choose the right cut of beef: Chuck roast is ideal for slow cooking as its marbling ensures tender, flavorful meat that falls apart beautifully.
- Browning is key: Take time to properly brown your beef cubes before adding them to the slow cooker. This step develops a deep, rich flavor foundation for your curry.
- Don't rush the cooking process: The 7-8 hour slow cook time is crucial for breaking down tough meat fibers and allowing flavors to fully develop.
- For extra depth, consider toasting your curry powder in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding to the liquid mixture to enhance its aromatic qualities.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with a little cold water and stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Serve over freshly steamed white rice to soak up all the delicious curry sauce, and consider garnishing with some chopped green onions for a fresh touch.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 350kcal
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 30g
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 90mg
