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Crispy Tofu Katsu Curry with Rice

Oven-baked panko-crusted tofu with a smooth, mildly spiced Japanese-style curry sauce, fluffy rice and a crunchy cabbage and carrot slaw. A lighter vegan take on the takeaway favourite, with 26g of protein.

Dinner

60

Serves 4

An oval plate of crispy golden breaded katsu with a smooth curry sauce, a mound of white rice and a shredded cabbage and carrot salad, with small side bowls

Ingredients

  • 1 x 400g (14oz) block extra-firm tofu, drained
  • 3 tbsp (about 30g) plain flour (all-purpose flour), mixed with 5 tbsp (75ml) water to make a smooth batter
  • 60g/2oz/1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) rapeseed (canola) oil in total: 1 tbsp for the tofu, 1 tbsp for the sauce
  • 200g/7oz/1 cup jasmine or sushi rice
  • For the curry sauce
  • 1 medium onion (about 100g/3½oz), chopped
  • 1 medium carrot (about 100g/3½oz), chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic (about 8g) and a 2cm/¾in piece ginger (about 10g), grated
  • 2 tbsp (about 12g) mild curry powder
  • 2 tbsp (about 20g) plain flour
  • 400ml/1⅔ cups vegetable stock
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) reduced-salt soy sauce
  • 1 tsp (7g) maple syrup
  • For the slaw
  • 150g/5oz white (green) cabbage, very finely shredded
  • 1 small carrot (about 60g/2oz), cut into thin strips
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) rice vinegar

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 220C (200C fan, 425F) and line a baking tray (baking sheet) with baking paper (parchment paper). Wrap the tofu in a clean tea towel (dish towel), put something heavy on top and press for 10 minutes to remove excess water.
  2. Meanwhile, start the sauce: heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion and carrot for 8 minutes, until soft. Add the garlic and ginger for 1 minute, then stir in the curry powder and flour for 1 minute more.
  3. Gradually whisk in the stock, then add the soy sauce and maple syrup. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the vegetables are very soft. Blend until smooth with a stick (immersion) blender; add a splash of water if it is too thick.
  4. Cut the tofu across into 8 slices about 1.5cm/½in thick. Dip each slice in the flour batter, then press into the panko to coat both sides. Lay on the tray, drizzle or brush with 1 tbsp oil and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway, until deep golden and crisp.
  5. While the tofu bakes, cook the rice according to the packet, and toss the cabbage and carrot strips with the rice vinegar.
  6. Serve 2 slices of tofu each with the rice, a generous spoonful of curry sauce and the slaw. Leftover sauce keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Cool any leftover rice within an hour, keep it in the fridge, eat it within 24 hours and reheat it only once until steaming hot.

Why it works

A plate gives you about 26g of protein for 554 calories, including the rice. Extra-firm tofu provides most of the protein.

Baked, not fried. Katsu is usually deep-fried. Baking the panko-coated tofu on a hot tray with a little oil still gives a crisp, golden crust with much less fat.

Press the tofu. Pressing out the water for 10 minutes helps the coating stick and the tofu crisp up, rather than steaming inside the crumbs.

A homemade curry sauce. Katsu curry sauce is a mild, slightly sweet Japanese-style curry thickened with flour. Blending in carrots and onion makes it smooth and naturally sweet, with less added sugar than many ready-made sauces.

Not tagged for blood sugar, because the rice and coating bring most of the 68g of carbohydrate. Contains soya, wheat (gluten) and possibly celery or mustard in the curry powder and stock, so check the labels. For another tofu dinner, try the crispy sesame tofu with broccoli or the tofu pad thai.