Easy Japanese Beef Curry

Step 1

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound lean ground beef and 1 diced medium yellow onion. Season with 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt and cook, breaking up the meat with a stiff spatula into bite-size pieces and stirring occasionally, until the beef is cooked through, the onion is softened, and most of the released liquid has evaporated, about 7 minutes.

Step 2

Break up 1 (3.2-ounce) box Japanese curry sauce mix into a few pieces and add to the saucepan. Stir until the curry melts and coats the beef mixture. Stir in 2 1/3 cups water, 1 large diced Yukon Gold potato, and 1 thinly sliced medium carrot. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the saucepan and bring to a boil.

Step 3

Reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer, stirring halfway through, until the potatoes and carrots are tender and the flavors meld, 15 to 20 minutes total.

Step 4

Stir in 2/3 cup frozen peas if desired and cook uncovered until heated through, about 1 minute. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed. Serve with steamed white rice and fukujinzuke if desired.