Description
If you’re craving a comforting bite packed with flavor, Japanese Curry Bread (kare-pan) is the way to go. With a golden, crispy shell and a warm, savory curry filling, this recipe brings the essence of Japanese comfort food right to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (or substitute with whole wheat flour)
- 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar (or honey as a substitute)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (not too hot for yeast)
- 2 tablespoons curry powder (adjust to your taste)
- 1 pound ground beef (or plant-based alternative)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 potato, diced
- Vegetable oil, for frying (or use an air fryer)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Gradually mix in warm water until a dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- As the dough rises, prepare the filling. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped onion until translucent. Add the ground beef and brown it. Mix in the diced carrot, potato, and curry powder. Add a little water, cover, and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Let the mixture cool.
- Once the dough has doubled in size (about 1 hour), punch it down and divide into 8 equal parts. Roll each into a circle and place a spoonful of cooled curry filling in the center.
- Fold the dough over the filling and seal to form a bun. Let the buns rise for another 30 minutes. Heat oil in a deep fryer or preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
- Fry each bun until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. For air fryer, lightly brush buns with oil and cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Drain the buns on paper towels. Let them cool slightly and enjoy warm.
Notes
Try swapping ground beef with chicken or plant-based protein. These buns freeze well and reheat beautifully in the oven or air fryer. Let the filling cool before assembling to avoid soggy dough or burst buns during cooking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Fried
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Japanese curry bread, kare-pan, fried buns, curry filling