Easy Japanese Curry Sauce
Japanese Curry Dipping Sauce
Perfect with Grilled Cheese!
Some of my best recipe ideas come to me late at night—usually when I'm lying in bed, thinking about food (you do that too, right?). One night, I was dreaming of quesabirria tacos—you know, the crispy, cheesy tacos you dunk into that rich, flavorful consommé. And I thought… what if I gave Japanese curry the same treatment?
Enter: Japanese curry dipping sauce. A bold, umami-packed twist on traditional Japanese curry—no potatoes, no chunky veggies—just a thick, concentrated curry perfect for dunking a crispy grilled cheese sandwich into. Think of it as quesabirria meets Japanese comfort food.
Tips for Making the Perfect Grilled Cheese Pairing
Since the curry will be very flavorful, use a milder cheese like cheddar, mozzarella or fontina.
Add some garlic chili oil to your sandwich for an extra kick! My absolute favorite is made by David Chang. Link here! You can also make your own with my recipe in the sauce section.
If you’re using this curry dipping sauce, add in some fresh tomato slices, it helps lighten the sandwich, and provides the perfect amount of acidity.
The most important part, use mayonnaise and NOT butter to make your grilled cheese. This is going to give you the perfect, crispy exterior. I prefer to use Kewpie mayo for perfect grilled cheesiness!
For bread, sourdough is my favorite!
This Japanese curry sauce is super versatile. Sure, I highly recommend dunking your grilled cheese sandwiches in it (check out my fancy grilled cheese recipe linked here!), but that’s just the beginning. Here are some other things you can do with this curry sauce:
What Else Can You Do With This Japanese Curry Sauce?
Make Curry Udon: Add a little extra broth, toss in some vegetables, and stir in cooked udon noodles for a cozy bowl of Japanese curry udon.
Turn It Into a Stir Fry Sauce: Mix in your favorite veggies and serve over rice or noodles for a quick, flavorful meal.
Make It Vegetarian or Vegan: Use vegetable broth, skip the meat, or add tofu or another plant-based protein. It’s hearty, adaptable, and totally customizable.
Whether you’re craving a cozy curry dip for your sandwich or looking to level up dinner with a quick Japanese-inspired sauce, this recipe has your back.
Japanese Curry Dipping Sauce Recipe
Prep Time: 30 minutes, Cook Time: 30 minutes - Total Time: 1 hour
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients:
3 garlic cloves, peeled, smashed and minced
1/2 cup carrots, thinly sliced
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 tsp - 2 tbsp ginger (freshly grated or the kind in the jar… either works!)
1.5 cups broth (veggie broth recommended but any kind will do)
Optional: 1 tsp soy sauce (taste curry, add if needed)
2 scallions, thinly sliced for garnish
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In a small saucepan over medium high heat, sauté garlic, carrots, onion, and ginger until soft. About 5-7 minutes. Add Kosher salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.
Once the vegetables are soft and fragrant, add in the broth. Let this come to a gentle boil and then add in half of the curry packet. The easiest way to do this is to add a chunk of the curry packet to a ladle. Dip the ladle into the hot broth - using a chopstick, dissolve the mix into the broth and incorporate into the mixture.
Stir until dissolved and then let simmer for 10 minutes on low heat to thicken. Taste test: add any other additional seasonings such as honey, ketchup, soy sauce, or more salt and pepper.
Top with green onions for garnish.
