Natsuyasai Kare (Japanese Summer Vegetable Curry)
Pan-fried aubergine, courgette, okra and peppers in a smooth Japanese curry sauce, fully vegan.
Made with Japanese curry roux. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time40 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.48 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: rinse, add 450 ml water, bring to the boil, cover and cook on the lowest heat for 12 minutes. Rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
12 min - 2
Toss the aubergine with half the salt. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry the aubergine for 8 minutes until browned and soft. Lift out.
8 min - 3
Add the remaining oil and fry the courgette, pepper and okra for 6 minutes until golden at the edges.
6 min - 4
Warm your ready made Japanese curry roux (see the base recipe) in a large pan, loosening with a splash of water, until steaming.
- 5
Add all the vegetables and the tomatoes to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes until the tomatoes just soften.
5 min - 6
Serve over the rice.
Tips
- Fry the vegetables separately before adding them to the sauce. They keep their shape and sweetness.
- Salt the aubergine first to season it and stop it soaking up too much oil.
- Pumpkin, sweet potato or green beans work in place of okra.
- Top with a crispy fried tofu cutlet for a more filling dinner.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes and keep in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Vegetables soften on reheating; freezing is not recommended.
Questions
Is this curry vegan?
Yes. The roux is vegan and all the ordinary ingredients here are plant based. It is also gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
Can I use frozen vegetables?
Yes, but stir fry them from frozen in a hot pan and drain off the liquid before adding to the sauce, or it will thin out.
Can I roast the vegetables instead?
Yes. Toss with oil and roast at 220C for 25 minutes, then stir into the hot sauce. This uses less oil and gives good colour.
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.