Kare Pan | Japanese Curry Buns #BreadBakingBabes
 
 
Kare Pan, also known as Japanese Curry Buns, are round morsels of bread dough stuffed with a curry mixture, rolled in Panko crumbs, and deep-fried to a golden crispness.
Author:
Recipe type: Bread Buns
Cuisine: Japanese
Serves: 8-12 Buns depending on how big you shape them
Ingredients
For the Dough:
  • ½ tsp instant yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1¼ cups all-purpose spelt flour, plus more for sprinkling
  • ½ cup whole grain einkorn flour
  • ½ cup all-purpose einkorn flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ tbsp. oil
  • ½ - ¾ cup cup water
For the Curry:
  • 2½ cups diced mixed vegetables (carrot, cauliflower, beans)
  • ⅓ cup frozen green peas
  • 3 big potatoes
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 1 tsp garlic paste
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • 2 big onions, chopped fine
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1½ tsp. coriander powder
  • 1½ tsp. cumin powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • Salt to taste
  • 3 to 4 tbsp. coriander chopped fresh (I omitted this ingredient)
To Coat the Shaped Kare Pan:
  • A thin almost watery slurry/ mixture of all-purpose flour and water (or two eggs beaten well)
  • 1½ cups Panko crumbs
  • Oil for deep-frying
Instructions
For the Curry:
  1. You can make this ahead or do it while the dough is rising. Steam cook the mixed vegetables and the potatoes till well done. Mash them very well and keep aside.
  2. In a largish wok, heat the oil. Add the ginger and garlic pastes and saute taking care to see it doesn’t burn. Add half the onions and sauté again it is soft and translucent. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook them till they’re soft and mushy.
  3. Use your potato masher, or a wooden spoon, to mash the onion-tomato mixture further. Cook until the oil appears on the edge.
  4. Add the turmeric, chili, coriander, cumin and garam masala powders. Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, stirring often, until the raw smell of the spices disappears. Add the mashed vegetables, salt and about quarter a cup of water. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until everything blends into a homogeneous thick moist consistency with no gravy Mix in the chopped coriander and let it cool. Use to fill the Curry Buns.
For the Dough & Kare Pan:
  1. If you’re using instant yeast, just mix that and the sugar into the flours.
  2. In a large bowl (or use your food processor/ kneading machine), mix together the flours, sugar, salt and yeast. Add the oil and the water. Knead well, adding as much more water (or some flour if needed) as necessary to form a smooth elastic dough.
  3. Roll the dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl, coating it with the oil. Cover loosely and let it rise till double in size (should take about 1½ hours or so).
  4. Deflate the dough and divide it into equal 10 (or 12) pieces. Place them on your lightly floured work surface, cover and let them rise for about 30 to 45 minutes. Get the Curry filling ready. Also get the flour slurry or beaten egg, and the Panko crumbs all ready.
  5. Working quickly with one piece at a time, gently press down a piece of dough and roll it out into a circle about ¼" thick. Place a generous amount (not too much) of filling in the center and bring up the side together over the filling to shape into a ball. Otherwise, fold over into a half-moon taking care to seal the edges very well. Use water or egg if necessary to seal.
  6. Dip the dough ball into the flour slurry (or beaten egg) and then roll it in the breadcrumbs till it is coated well. If shaping into a ball. Use your palms to gently press in the breadcrumbs. Keep aside. Quickly repeat with remaining dough pieces and filling. Let them rest for about 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. In the meanwhile heat enough oil in a wok or fryer for deep frying the dough balls. Once the oil is hot enough (365 degrees F/ 185 degrees C), gently drop 2 or 3 of the dough balls in the oil turning them over so they brown evenly. Once they’re a deep golden brown (should take about a couple of minutes) remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon or spatula and let them drain on paper towels.
  8. Serve them warm as they are or with sauce. They will be crisp and crunchy on the outside and a little bready on the inside with the filling.
Notes
No Panko Bread Crumbs, no problem! Refer to the method at the bottom of the post to make your own.

Make your own Garam Masala using the recipe at the bottom of the post.

This recipe makes about 8 to 12 Kare Pan depending on the size you shape them.
Recipe by Bread Experience at https://www.breadexperience.com/kare-pan-japanese-curry-buns/