Do you have idea what this food is that appears in Hero academia ep41?
This is Japanese curry. In this episode, they are conducting a training camp. In the original Japanese, it is called “Rinkan Gasshuku” (Summer camp), which is a mandatory event held in each school. During this event, there is a traditional activity where students prepare dinner by themselves. And almost 99% of the time, it’s Japanese curry.
Why do I specifically call it Japanese curry? It’s because it has changed significantly from the original curry that originated in India, due to the history and Japanese adaptations.This curry is incredibly popular and ranks in the top 10 favorite foods among Japanese people, surpassing even traditional Japanese cuisine. The love for curry among the Japanese is so strong that they have devised various dishes using curry, some of which have been enjoyed for over half a century.
In this article, I will provide instructions on how to make Japanese curry, highlight the differences from Indian curry, and introduce a variety of dishes that incorporate Japanese curry.
Basic Differences Between Japanese Curry and Indian Curry
Indian Curry: The typical Indian curry is characterized by a richly spiced sauce with plenty of moisture, usually enjoyed with dry, elongated Indica rice or roasted wheat flour-based bread such as Naan or Chapati. This is the typical way curry is consumed in India.
Japanese Curry: The typical Japanese curry is served with a thickened sauce over chewy Japonica rice. In terms of ingredients, there are significant differences between Japanese and Indian curry. While Indian curry offers a variety of options, Japanese curry typically includes meat (chicken or beef), onions, potatoes, and carrots, with this combination being the classic choice.
Recipe
The biggest characteristic of making Japanese curry is the use of commercially available curry blocks, known as “curry roux.” These blocks contain various spices, vegetable and fruit extracts, and by dissolving them, the dish is almost 80% complete. Many Japanese food manufacturers sell these curry blocks, so if there are Japanese or Asian supermarkets in your country, I encourage you to check them out. However, there are also recipes available to make Japanese curry from scratch without using these blocks, and I will introduce both methods here.
– Recipe with using curry block
-Recipe without suing curry block
Various Japanese Dishes Using Curry
A fusion of curry and Japanese cuisine has given birth to unique dishes.
Curry Udon
In Japan, there is a long-standing noodle dish called udon, which is based on a soy sauce broth. Curry udon is created by pouring curry over this udon. It has gained such popularity that there are specialty shops dedicated to serving curry udon.
Curry fried Bread
This is a uniquely Japanese adaptation where curry is stuffed inside bread, coated with breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. It’s a combination that you may not have seen in international bakeries.
Furthermore, there are countless dishes that incorporate curry in ways that are not commonly seen but still delicious, such as curry gratin, curry pasta, curry ramen, and more. (Japanese cuisine often combines elements from different cultures, which may seem peculiar but results in innovative flavors.)
Summary
As I have explained about Japanese curry in the sections so far, curry has undergone its own unique development throughout Japan’s history. Understanding the context and scenes in which curry appears in My Hero Academia may give you a slightly different perspective on it.
