Potato starch

片栗粉 / katakuriko

Flavor and role

A fine starch extracted from potatoes. It fries up very crisp, and when mixed with water and added to sauces it thickens them clear and glossy.

Typical dishes and uses

Karaage coating, final thickening for mapo tofu, tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), thickening jjamppong and stir-fry sauces.

Substitutes

Cornstarch 1:1 (slightly less crisp and less clear). Sweet potato starch or tapioca starch also work 1:1.

Storage

Sealed away from moisture, it keeps 1-2 years at room temperature. Sift if lumpy.

Main countries

Japan · Korea · Germany

Used in this book

Mapo TofuKaraage (Japanese Fried Chicken)Dakgangjeong (Korean Sweet and Crispy Chicken Bites)Gyoza (Pan-Fried Japanese Dumplings)Haemul Pajeon (Korean Seafood Scallion Pancake)Jjajangmyeon (Korean Black Bean Noodles)Kjøttkaker (Norwegian Meat Cakes in Brown Gravy)KopytkaYangnyeom Chicken (Korean Fried Chicken)Nikuman (Japanese Steamed Pork Buns)Risalamande (Danish Christmas Rice Pudding)Tangcu Liji (Home-Style Sweet and Sour Pork)Coconut Grilled Pork Rice BurgerCheesy Mung Bean Kimchi BallsGochujang Buffalo WingsBún Bò Huế Đặc Biệt with Oxtail and Homemade Chả HuếIchiban-Dashi Chawanmushi with Silver Dashi GlazeChawanmushi Rice Bowl with Ginger Crab GlazeChicken Nanban SandoHand-Cut Dak-kalguksu in Clear Chicken BrothCrunchy Garlic-Chip Dakgangjeong with Rice-Syrup GlazeDakgangjeong Rice Cake SkewersDubai Chocolate Mochi DaifukuGochujang Fried Chicken Gua Bao with Pickled RadishKimchi Cheese GyozaUnwrapped Gyoza Rice BowlGyudon Rice BurgerCrispy Pajeon Chips with Gochujang-Lime MayoJapanese Dashi-Braised HolubtsiJjajang Cheese Rice GratinRestaurant-Style Juicy Karaage with Spring Onion PonzuYangnyeom Karaage (Korean Sweet-Spicy Glazed Fried Chicken)Lemon-Mayo Karaage OnigirazuClarified-Butter Kartoffelpuffer with Smoked Salmon and Horseradish CreamKhao Soi Curry UdonYangnyeom Kibbeling (Dutch × Korean)Crispy Aged-Kimchi Jeon with Pork BellySunday Kjøttkaker with Brown Cheese Gravy and Mushy PeasWafu Kjøttkaker Rice Bowl with Grated Daikon and Ponzu (Norwegian × Japanese)Kjøttkake Sliders with Brown Cheese and Lingonberry MayoGolden Brown-Butter Kopytka with Wild Mushroom SauceKopytka Tteokbokki (Polish × Korean)Brined Soy-Garlic Fried ChickenGochujang Buffalo WingsCrispy Chicken Mayo Rice BowlVelvet Kung Pao Chicken, Restaurant StyleKung Pao Popcorn Chicken CupsAuthentic Sichuan Mapo Tofu with Toasted PeppercornJapanese Miso Mapo UdonGochujang Rosé Marry Me Chicken Rice BowlCrispy Nikuman Pork Toast with Karashi MayoGochugaru Honey-Soy Pollo al AjilloLemon-Ginger Ponzu Pork Medallions (American × Japanese)Crispy Shoyu Ramen Noodle PancakeVanilla-Bean Risalamande with Brown-Butter Almonds and Spiced Sour Cherry SauceNo-Churn Risalamande Ice Cream with Cherry Ripple and Almond BrittleShiso Pork Saltimbocca with Miso-Butter Sauce (Italian × Japanese)Clam Sujebi with Anchovy-Shiitake BrothCantonese Gu Lou Yuk with PineappleShrimp Tempura OnigirazuTeriyaki Chicken BurgerTeriyaki Chicken & Egg Mayo Rice BowlCrispy Honey-Gochujang Rice Cake Bites with Cheddar DipHandmade Sanuki-Style Kitsune UdonCharcoal Yakitori Duo: Salt Negima and TsukuneIchiban Dashi Yosenabe with Ginger Chicken TsukuneYosenabe Seafood An-kake Rice Bowl with Jammy EggGochujang-Honey Yuca Fries with Kimchi Curtido

Updated 2026-10-10