Japanese Curry Beef Bread

Step 1

Place the diced onion on a cutting board and chop it into pieces about the size of a grain of rice, until no piece is larger than a pencil tip.

Step 2

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers and moves quickly when you tilt the pan, about 60 seconds.

Step 3

Add the ground beef to the hot skillet, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon into small crumbles as it cooks, stirring constantly until it turns dark brown with no pink remaining, about 4 minutes.

Step 4

Add the diced onion to the cooked beef and stir for 1 minute until the onion becomes slightly soft and fragrant.

Step 5

Sprinkle 1.5 tablespoons of curry powder evenly over the beef and onion mixture, then stir constantly for 30 seconds until the powder coats everything and smells strongly fragrant.

Step 6

Pour 3 tablespoons of water into the skillet and stir the curry mixture until it looks like chunky, moist paste with no dry powder visible, about 1 minute.

Step 7

Remove the skillet from heat and let the curry cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes, so it will not melt the dough when you fill it.

Step 8

Divide the bread dough in half on a clean, dry cutting board, creating two equal-sized pieces.

Step 9

Flatten one dough piece into a circle about 3 inches across and 1/4 inch thick by pressing down with your palm and fingers.

Step 10

Spoon half the cooled curry filling (about 2 tablespoons) into the center of the flattened dough circle.

Step 11

Lift the edges of the dough circle up and around the filling, pinching them together at the top to seal, creating a pouch shape.

Step 12

Gently flip the sealed bread pouch seam-side down on the cutting board and use your palm to press it into a flat disc about 1/2 inch thick.

Step 13

Repeat steps 9–12 with the second dough piece and remaining curry filling.

Step 14

Wipe out the skillet with a paper towel, then add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and heat over medium heat until it shimmers, about 60 seconds.

Step 15

Place both curry bread discs into the hot oil and cook without moving them until the bottoms turn golden brown—the color of warm honey—about 3 minutes.

Step 16

Flip each bread disc over and cook the other side until it also turns golden brown, about 2 minutes.

Step 17

Transfer the curry bread to a plate and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, then serve immediately while warm.