Curry bread

Curry bread (カレーパン, karē pan) is a popular Japanese food. It consists of Japanese curry or other types of curry wrapped in a piece of dough, which is then coated in bread crumbs and deep fried.^[1] On occasion it is baked instead of deep-fried, but deep-frying is the most common method of cooking. Curry bread is usually found in bakeries and convenience stores.

Curry bread

Curry bread
Alternative names	karē pan
Type	Bread
Place of origin	Japan
Created by	Nakata Toyoharu (?)
Invented	1927 (?)
Main ingredients	Dough, Japanese curry, bread crumbs
Media: Curry bread

Yaki karē pan (baked curry bread)

History

The exact origin of curry bread in Japan is unknown, but it is often said that it was created in 1927 by a man named Nakata Toyoharu.^[2][3] It was during this time period that foods from Western countries were becoming popular in Japan and many businesses were experimenting with making Japanese-style Western dishes.^[2] As curry was introduced to Japan by Anglo-Indian Royal Navy officers, curry bread was originally called "Western food bread" (洋食パン, yōshoku pan) when it was first sold in Tokyo during the early Shōwa era.^[4][5] It eventually became widely referred to as "curry bread" (カレーパン, karē pan) due to its curry filling.^[5]　

In popular culture

• Karē pan man (lit. 'Curry bread man') is one of the superheroes in Anpanman. He has a head made out of curry bread.^[6] In addition to his special moves, "Curry Punch" and "Curry Kick", he also attacks by spraying hot curry from his mouth onto his opponent.

See also

• Bunny chow – South African dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry
• Curry puff – Pastry with curry filling