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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Sauces

Katsu Curry Sauce (just like Wagamama)

Mar 19, 2025 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 9 Comments

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Katsu curry sauce with a text title overlay.
Katsu curry sauce with a text title overlay.

Any time I go somewhere like Wagamama, I am ordering the chicken katsu, with extra sauce. It's my go-to and SO good. However, I have been working on perfecting my own Katsu Curry Sauce and I think this is pretty spot on. This katsu sauce recipe is the perfect blend of flavours, with the saltiness and spice. It is delicious smothered over crispy chicken. It only takes 10 minutes too and this homemade katsu curry sauce can be stashed in the freezer for easy dinners.

A bowl of katsu sauce next to a plate of chicken katsu and rice.

What is Katsu Sauce?

Katsu sauce is a Japanese Sauce (made popular in the UK by a Japanese chain restaurant) that is a blend of salty, sweet, spice and umami. It is one of those sauces that just leaves you wanting more - so moreish. It stores really well too, so it's great for batch cooking.

Short for tonkatsu, traditional katsu sauce is basically like a Japanese version of a Western barbecue sauce. It’s sweet (from the coconut milk), with those incredible umami undertones.

It has such an incredible flavour and only takes 10 minutes to cook! This is different from the more traditional versions, and is our take on the Wagamama version, which is a bit creamier as it's a katsu curry sauce recipe with coconut milk and our kids LOVE it - it's what really got them into curry sauce.

Looking for more sauce recipes to try? Why not try our easy Healthy BBQ Sauce, Subway copycat Southwest Sauce or our authentic Kebab Shop Chilli Sauce?

Jump to:
  • What is Katsu Sauce?
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Katsu Curry Sauce Variations
  • How to Make Katsu Curry Sauce - Step by Step
  • How To Use Katsu Curry Sauce
  • Storage
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Japanese Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed to make this recipe, each with a text overlay label.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Oil - A good quality olive oil.
  • Onion - Save time and use frozen chopped onions.
  • Garlic and Ginger - You can save time by using a garlic and ginger paste or even a frozen option.
  • Curry powder - We used a mild curry powder, but you could make this spicy by using a hot curry powder like madras.
  • Turmeric - It's what gives the katsu sauce the incredible colour.
  • Flour - Use gluten free flavour to keep it gluten free.
  • Stock - We used chicken stock for this katsu curry sauce recipe, as it gives it a really rich flavour. But you can use vegetable stock to keep it vegetarian.
  • Coconut milk - This adds a lovely creaminess to the sauce. We used reduced fat.
  • Soy sauce - This is where the umami flavour comes from. We use light soy sauce. Use tamari to keep it gluten free.

Katsu Curry Sauce Variations

I know some people don't like the creaminess in katsu sauce, so you could leave that out and add a little ketchup and some extra stock to thin it out a little.

You can also make this katsu curry recipe as spicy as you like. We used mild curry powder to make it enjoyable for our young kids, but you could use a madras curry powder for that extra kick.

If you like a sweeter katsu curry sauce recipe, then you could add a little honey or maple syrup to it.

How to Make Katsu Curry Sauce - Step by Step

Chopped onions cooking in a pan.
  1. Step one: Put the oil into a saucepan and add the onion, garlic and ginger. Cook over a low heat until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes.
Curry powder and turmeric added to the onions.
  1. Step two: Once the onions have softened, add the curry powder and turmeric. Mix well.
Coconut milk and stock added to the pan.
  1. Step three: Add the flour and mix again. Gradually add the stock, coconut milk and soy sauce, mixing continuously.
The sauce blended in the pan.
  1. Step four: Simmer for 5 minutes. You can leave your sauce as it is, or blend for a smoother consistency.

How To Use Katsu Curry Sauce

It has to be breaded chicken for that traditional chicken katsu sauce combination. Why not try our Air Fryer Chicken Katsu recipe, which is perfectly cooked crispy chicken, with this katsu curry sauce smothered over it.

We also like to breadcrumb salmon in the same way and serve that with this katsu sauce recipe.

If you want a vegetarian/vegan option to serve this incredible sauce with (using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to keep it veggie), then some breaded tofu or breaded sweet potato slices would be perfect. Tempura aubergine (eggplant) is amazing too.

Then of course you need some rice (or maybe noodles) to serve this with and soak up all that incredible katsu sauce recipe. Why not try our delicious Coconut Rice, quick Perfect Microwave Rice or our convenient Slow Cooker Rice?

If you haven't tried chips (fries) dipped into katsu curry sauce, then you are seriously missing out - try our Air Fryer Chips recipe. Move aside ketchup - this is an amazing combination. So, make sure to make extra sauce so you have leftovers the next day for this.

Katsu sauce in a small grey bowl with a small wooden spoon in it.

Storage

Store: This katsu sauce recipe stores really well, and we always make a double or triple batch of it to stash away. It will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freeze: There is always some of this in our freezer. So handy for easy meals. We either put it in ziplock bags and lay flat in the freezer for bigger adult portions, or we freeze in ice cube trays for smaller kids portions. Then we just pop out a few cubes at a time for the kids.

Defrost and reheat: You can cook the sauce from frozen. Just break up the portion in the ziplock bag or put some cubes into a saucepan and heat on very low until warmed through. You might need to add a splash of water to loosen it up.

Extra Tips

  • Make sure your spices haven't been left open for longer than 6 months, as you want them to have the best flavour.
  • You can make this spicier by using a madras curry powder.
  • If you want a really smooth sauce, then you can strain it after blending it.
  • If you wanted to hide some vegetables in this katsu curry recipe, then you can simmer some carrots with it and then blend them in when they are fully softened.
  • You could also stir some creamy peanut butter into it to make it more like a satay and add some protein too.
A bowl containing sliced katsu chicken, rice and katsu sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this katsu sauce recipe vegan?

If you swap the chicken stock for vegetable stock, then this can be a vegan recipe. If you wanted it sweeter, you would need to use maple syrup rather than honey to keep it vegan.

Can I make this gluten free?

As long as you use gluten free flour and swap soy sauce for tamari, then this can be gluten free.

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If you’ve tried this katsu sauce recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Sliced breaded chicken covered in katsu curry sauce.

Katsu Curry Sauce (just like Wagamama)

By: Dannii Martin
Learn how to make your own Katsu Curry Sauce at home. A delicious blend of flavours that can be used to smother crispy chicken.
4.78 from 9 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Sauce/Spread
Cuisine: Japanese
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
Total: 12 minutes mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 284kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten
An illustration of a cow's head.
Meat
An illustration of soyabeans.
Soya

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 Onion - diced
  • 2 Garlic cloves - crushed
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh ginger - grated
  • 2 tablespoon Curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon Turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon Plain flour
  • 280 ml (1.25 cups) Chicken stock
  • 120 ml (0.5 cups) Coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon Soy sauce

Instructions

  • Put 2 tablespoon Olive oil into a saucepan and add 1 Onion, 2 Garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon Fresh ginger. Cook over a low heat until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes.
  • Once the onions have softened, add 2 tablespoon Curry powder and 1 teaspoon Turmeric. Mix well.
  • Add 1 tablespoon Plain flour and mix again. Gradually add 280 ml Chicken stock, 120 ml Coconut milk and 1 teaspoon Soy sauce, mixing continuously.
  • Simmer for 5 minutes. You can leave your sauce as it is, or blend for a smoother consistency.

Recipe Tips

  • Make sure your spices haven't been left open for longer than 6 months, as you want them to have the best flavour.
  • You can make this spicier by using a madras curry powder.
  • If you want a really smooth sauce, then you can strain it after blending it.
  • If you wanted to hide some vegetables in this katsu curry recipe, then you can simmer some carrots with it and then blend them in when they are fully softened.
  • You could also stir some creamy peanut butter into it to make it more like a satay and add some protein too.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 333mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 18mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Keith Hewitt says

    April 29, 2025 at 7:04 pm

    3 stars
    Fantastic revipe

    Reply
  2. Dina and Bruce says

    April 01, 2024 at 11:13 am

    5 stars
    This curry sauce was divine. Served over grilled chicken with rice.

    Reply
  3. Ann says

    April 01, 2024 at 2:33 am

    5 stars
    This is such a good sauce. I love it on everything. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Shashi at Savory Spin says

    April 01, 2024 at 1:34 am

    5 stars
    Wow - what a tasty dish - this was so creamy and tasty. Cannot wait to make this again!

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      October 20, 2024 at 6:06 am

      Hi there! Does the calories include the chicken and rice aswell?

      Reply
      • Dannii Martin says

        November 26, 2024 at 8:24 am

        No, the nutritional information is just for everything that is in the recipe card, which is the sauce only.

        Reply
  5. Gianne says

    April 01, 2024 at 1:28 am

    5 stars
    The flavor was rich, with a perfect balance of spices. It elevated my homemade katsu curry to a whole new level. I highly recommend it.

    Reply
  6. Gianne says

    April 01, 2024 at 1:28 am

    5 stars
    It’s thick and creamy, with just the right amount of spice. It’s easy to prepare and goes great with chicken or tofu.

    Reply
  7. Cathleen says

    April 01, 2024 at 12:22 am

    5 stars
    I have been looking for a recipe like this for forever now! This is perfect, thank you so much for sharing :)

    Reply
4.78 from 9 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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