Tofu Katsu Curry

Ingredients

For the curry sauce

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon medium curry powder
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 400 ml hot water
• pinch of sugar (optional)
• salt

For the tofu

• 3 tablespoons cornflour
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• 60 g panko breadcrumbs
• 200 g marinated tofu
• flavourless vegetable oil

To serve

• jasmine rice, cooked according to the packet instructions
• handful of shredded vegetables (spring onions, carrots, cucumbers, radishes and sugar snap peas all jump to mind), or salad leaves dressed with a little lime juice

Method

Start the curry sauce by heating the oil in a saucepan. Cook the onion, carrot and garlic with a pinch of salt over a medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until starting to soften.

Add the curry powder and flour and cook for a further 2 minutes, then gradually add the water in small amounts, stirring as you go to avoid lumps. Simmer for 10 minutes, then blend until smooth. You may want to thin it with a bit more water, it should have the consistency of a thick soup.

Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and a pinch of sugar, if you think it needs it. Set aside.

For the tofu, mix the cornflour and cold water in a shallow bowl to make a sticky paste. Tip the breadcrumbs into a second bowl. Slice the tofu in half horizontally, so you have 2 flat squares. Turn them in the cornflour mix to coat, then turn them in the breadcrumbs until completely covered.

Heat a 5mm depth of oil in a high-sided frying pan. Fry the tofu for 2–3 minutes a side, until golden.

Reheat the sauce and spoon it next to the freshly cooked jasmine rice on warm plates. Cut the tofu into thick slices and perch it on top, so it doesn’t get soggy, and serve with the shredded raw veg or lime-dressed salad leaves.