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Dashi

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Dashi Curry is a curry made without store-bought curry mix but with dashi stock and curry powder, thickened with starch. It’s a simpler type of Japanese curry often found at Soba or Udon noodle shops, in contrast to curry specialty stores that use more complicated spices and ingredients. Unlike traditional Japanese curries that rely on instant curry roux, Dashi Curry offers a more straightforward approach to this beloved comfort food. By using curry powder and Dashi—a fundamental Japanese stock made from bonito flakes—the dish gains a rich, umami depth without relying on processed ingredients. The simplicity of Dashi Curry doesn’t compromise on flavor. Instead, it highlights the clean, subtle tastes of Dashi and the warmth of curry powder, creating a dish that feels simple and homey. I hope you give it a try soon!

Dashi, broth of fish or vegetables, is an important component when cooking Japanese food.  Dashi is the base flavor of a lot of Japanese dishes, and it is hard to omit.  Whether you make it from scratch or use more convenient instant granules or packets, Dashi will be needed if you’re cooking Japanese food. We’ll show you how to make 4 kinds of Dashi here, and they will be used in different dishes.

Dashi ingredients are found at Japanese or Asian markets, but you can also buy them online today. Check out our Dashi recommendations on Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Tamago Tofu (Tamagodofu) is savory egg flan similar to Chawanmushi.  Even though it’s called Tofu, it is not made from soy beans.  It is really more like custard.  Tamago Tofu is simply flavored with salt, Mirin, and Dashi fish stock. This subtle and comforting dish is usually eaten chilled, especially in warm seasons.  If you don’t have any appetite from the heat outside, this can be an easy dish to enjoy.  It feels great going down on a hot summer day.  However, hot Tamago Tofu is also good just like Chawanmushi.

Dashi or Japanese soup stock is a very important component in traditional Japanese cooking.  It is used in soups, stews, boiled vegetables and many other dishes.  It is not hard to make at all, but it is one step you have to take before you cook food.

There are different kinds of Dashi you can make from various umami rich ingredients (learn more from our How to Make Dashi post), but in this recipe, we make the simple and traditional broth using some dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi) #ad and water.  Dried bonito flakes can be easily found at Japanese supermarkets or online stores.