Wagamama reveals recipe for their famous katsu curry

Katsu curry might just take the title for Asia’s ultimate comfort food. Combining the subtly spiced warmth of a masala or korma with the crunch of karaage, katsu is proof positive that fried chicken can work with basically anything. 

However, just because the traditionally katsu formula is rightly heralded as delicious doesn’t mean that anyone can recreate it. Clearly, where hot oil, raw chicken and sharp knives are concerned, accidents are waiting to happen. This makes the news that one of the most famous katsu curry recipes on the planet has finally been released to the public even more exciting. 

In a video released this week, popular British restaurant chain Wagamama provided the instructions for their much-loved chicken katsu curry recipe. Hosted by the restaurant’s executive chef Steve Mangleshot, the video takes cooks through every step of the dish, allowing every viewer to recreate it in the comfort of their own kitchen.

Watch the video here:

In the clip, Mangleshot explains to the audience: 

“This is the first time in 20 years that I’ve gone this long without cooking Wagamama food and to be honest, I’m missing it. So, I thought I’d bring the Wagamama kitchen home so we can all get our Wagamama fix.

“The production value might not be up to our usual standard as it will be shot on an iPhone 11 but to be honest we’re making this up as we go along. My wife is the producer/director and my kids are the sous chefs. So it’s gonna be interesting.”

Despite the not inconsiderable hurdles, the results of the recipe speak for themselves. 

Like katsu? You’ll love our incredible Giant Chicken Katsu Sushi Sandwich:

In order to successfully recreate the dish, Mangleshot has several tips for keen home cooks, including cooking out the flour before adding the stock in order to help it “click together with the spices” and flattening out the chicken breast with a rolling pin before panéing. Even if you’re no stranger to homemade katsu, these insights make the clip worth watching. 

It’s also worth remembering that a dish like katsu curry has a not inconsiderate ingredients list, which includes vegetable oil, onion, garlic clove, ginger, turmeric, mild curry powder, plain flour, chicken or vegetable stock, coconut milk, light soy sauce, sugar, rice, chicken breasts, eggs, panko breadcrumbs and salad leaves. Even if you know that video back to front, you’ll still need to have everything assembled. Once you’ve got it all together, however, this video should help make the rest a piece of cake.