Kimuchi Kare (Kimchi and Pork Curry Rice)
Thin sliced pork and sour, spicy kimchi stirred into Japanese curry sauce, a bold Japanese-Korean mash up.
Made with Japanese curry roux and Kimchi. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.74 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Cook the rice with 450 ml water, covered, on the lowest heat for 12 minutes and rest for 10.
12 min - 2
Heat the oil in a large pan over a high heat. Fry the pork for 5 minutes until browned and cooked through with no pink. Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes.
9 min - 3
Add your ready made kimchi (see the base recipe), roughly chopped, with its juices. Fry for 3 minutes until it smells fragrant.
3 min - 4
Pour in your ready made Japanese curry roux (see the base recipe) and 100 ml water. Stir well and simmer for 5 minutes until hot and glossy.
5 min - 5
Spoon over the rice and scatter with spring onion and sesame seeds.
Tips
- Use well fermented sour kimchi. Fresh kimchi is milder and the dish tastes flatter.
- Add the kimchi juices as well. They season the sauce.
- Slice pork thinly across the grain so it stays tender in a short cook.
- Tofu or mushrooms make a good meatless version.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes and keep in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Freezing is not recommended because of the kimchi.
Questions
Is kimchi curry really a Japanese dish?
Yes. Kimchi is popular in Japan and kimchi curry is a home and cafe favourite, using ordinary Japanese curry sauce with kimchi stirred in.
Is it spicy?
Medium, depending on your kimchi. Japanese curry is mild, so the heat comes from the kimchi. Use less kimchi for less spice.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Only if your kimchi is vegetarian. Many contain fish sauce or shrimp. Use a vegan kimchi and swap the pork for tofu.
More made with japanese curry roux
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.