Completely Crispy Tonkatsu: Japanese Fried Pork Cutlets

Crispy and juicy tonkatsu pork is a staple of Japanese delicacies. This well-known dish is constituted of pork cutlets deep-fried in panko crumbs and served with a signature sauce. With its crispy exterior and tender inside, tonkatsu gives an irresistible mixture of flavors and textures. There are various Tonkatsu speciality eating places in Japan nevertheless it’s additionally a traditional Japanese dwelling cooked dish and undoubtedly worthwhile studying the best way to make tonkatsu at dwelling. Making pork katsu at dwelling lets you take pleasure in this scrumptious meal everytime you crave it. With this step-by-step information, you may simply recreate the standard flavours of tonkatsu in your individual kitchen!

What’s Tonkatsu?

Tonkatsu is a well-liked Japanese dish that consists of panko bread crumbs and deep-fried pork cutlets. The phrase “tonkatsu” is derived from the Japanese phrases “ton” that means pork, and “katsu” from the English phrase “cutlets”. The usage of panko breadcrumbs offers tonkatsu its signature mild and ethereal but completely crispy texture. The cutlets are then deep fried till golden brown and sometimes served with Tonkatsu sauce and shredded inexperienced cabbage. 

This traditional consolation dish originated in Japan in the course of the late nineteenth century on account of Western affect on Japanese delicacies ( known as ‘yoshoku‘). It was launched by early European settlers who introduced with them their love for breaded meat dishes like schnitzel. Nevertheless, over time, tonkatsu has advanced into a novel specialty of Japanese cooking with a number of variations on this scrumptious meal.

Scrumptious Variations of Tonkatsu

Basic tonkatsu is easy and scrumptious however there are numerous extra methods to eat it with every area in Japan placing its personal distinctive twist to it. A well-liked variation, and my private favorite, is Miso Katsu coming from the Nagoya are of Japan. Miso katsu provides a wealthy, savory, and umami twist to the standard tonkatsu by incorporating miso paste into the sauce. 

Whereas the standard pork tonkatsu recipe options simply the panko crumbed pork cutlet with tonkatsu sauce and cabbage, there are variations that incorporate extra components. One variation is Katsudon, which mixes tonkatsu and donburi. This in style donburi (rice bowl) dish makes use of tonkatsu and additional elements to create a flavourful and comforting dish. Often known as “pork cutlet bowl”, Katsudon combines the crispy tonkatsu with eggs, onions, and a savory broth sauce all simmered collectively then poured over rice. 

One other variation is Katsu curry. This fusion dish is constituted of Japanese curry and tonkatsu— really a match made in culinary heaven! This variation combines Japanese curry with the crispy breaded pork cutlet to create one very scrumptious meal. 

For many who don’t eat pork or just wish to discover completely different flavours, there’s an equally tasty various referred to as rooster katsu. Rooster katsu is made precisely the identical as tonkatsu however with rooster breast (or thigh) as a substitute of pork.

Components for Tonkatsu

Pork: Pork loin, or sirloin or pork chops, is the first minimize of meat utilized in Tonkatsu. This explicit minimize is chosen for its tenderness and delicate flavour and skill to retain juiciness whereas frying.

Fillets (tenderloin) are additionally used for making Tonkatsu. When the fillet a part of pork is used, it’s known as “Hirekatsu“. 

Panko Breadcrumbs: In contrast to common breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs are constituted of Japanese white ‘Shokupan’ bread with out the crusts. This makes it lighter and with bigger flakes so it’s extra ethereal and crispy with out changing into greasy or heavy. 

Different Components for the Batter: 

• Eggs
• Mayonnaise – this makes it extra crispy and retains the meat juicy.
• Flour

Accompaniments: 

• Tonkatsu sauce
• Shredded inexperienced cabbage

Step-by-step information on the best way to make conventional Tonkatsu at dwelling

1: Put together the Pork loin chops. Begin by chopping slits alongside the sting to keep away from the pork curling up when cooking. Flatten the pork whether it is too thick. Season with salt and black pepper on either side.  

2: Put together the batter. Mix crushed eggs, water, and mayonnaise in a mixing bowl. Add all-purpose flour to the egg combination bowl and blend briefly with chopsticks. Watch out to not over combine it.

3: Dip a bit of pork into the batter and coat properly with batter. Take away extra batter and transfer it to the tray of panko crumbs. Coat the pork with panko breadcrumbs on either side properly by urgent down to stick and likewise ensure that all sides of the pork are coated.

4: Warmth the vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or deep fryer (like I did) to 170 levels celsius (338F). On the similar time line some paper towels on a wire rack on a tray.

5: When the oil reaches the temperature, gently put one pork in. Prepare dinner one by one.

6. Deep fry the pork for a couple of minutes with out transferring it round, when the sting turns into golden brown, flip it over gently and thoroughly with chopsticks and warmth as much as 190 diploma celsius (374F) to prepare dinner for an additional 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

7: Place the deep fried pork on the paper towel-lined wire rack to empty any extra oil. Prepare dinner the remainder of the pork in the identical method.

8. Slice the deep fried pork into 1.5cm (0.59 inch) strips and transfer all items in a single go by putting the knife beneath the minimize pork. *4

Serve with finely shredded cabbage, shiso leaves, tomato, and tonkatsu sauce.

Finely Shredded Cabbage “Kyabetsu no sengiri”

Tonkatsu will be loved by itself or served alongside rice, shredded cabbage, miso soup, and tonkatsu sauce for a whole meal. 

You probably have been to Japan or native Japanese restaurant you’d have seen that finely shredded cabbage ALWAYS accompanies Tonkatsu. We Japanese individuals cannot have tonkatsu or some other deep fried panko crumbed meals with out this finely shredded cabbage! It provides a recent and crunchy reduction. You should utilize a vegetable shredder to shred it actually finely (watch out to not shred your finger like I’ve earlier than). Or you may take away the cabbage leaves one after the other, minimize it in half and take away the exhausting stem half then roll 2-3 leaves collectively and slice it with a pointy knife about 1mm (0.04 inch) thick. Once more, watch out to not minimize your fingers.

Tonkatsu sauce

Tonkatsu is often served with a tangy sauce known as tonkatsu sauce. It’s much like Worcestershire sauce however has a sweeter style. This savory-sweet sauce completely enhances tonkatsu. 

Tonkatsu sauce could be very straightforward to search out in Japan. Like many different Japanese individuals, I’m a giant fan of “Bulldog” model tonkatsu sauce (I’m not sponsored or receiving any kind of fee). It’s a fruity and umami packed thick sauce that provides such a well-matched flavour to the tonkatsu. Similar to we cannot have Tonkatsu with out shredded cabbage, we additionally cannot eat it with out tonkatsu sauce. If you happen to don’t have any Asian/Japanese supermarkets close to you then you may attempt both on-line or make your individual.

Deep-frying Trick 

Often, the way in which individuals deep-fry is by coating with flour, then dipping in egg, then coating with bread crumbs. However here’s a hack to avoid wasting time, dishes, and energy with out compromising on flavour and style. My primary hack is so as to add Japanese mayonnaise and blend egg, water, and flour all collectively to make a batter. Dip the ready pork into the combination then straight to panko crumbs.

Ideas for Making Juicy and Crispy Tonkatsu

• Put together the pork – rating the fats and connecting tissues at 2cm (0.78 inch) intervals in order that the meat doesn’t curl up when it’s deep fried. The pork I purchased was about 2cm (0.78 inch) thick loin so I wanted to make use of a meat hammer to flatten it out to about 1 cm (0.39inch).
• Use mayonnaise within the batter – I’ve mentioned it many occasions earlier than why to make use of Japanese mayonnaise, so I cannot go in a lot element right here however mainly it makes it further crispy and retains the within juicy. For extra data try different posts corresponding to Potato Croquette or Hirekatsu.
• The deep frying temperature is vital. The tonkatsu meat is often fairly thick. If you happen to add it to actually sizzling oil, it can brown the skin shortly with out cooking the within correctly. However should you deep fry in low warmth, you’ll find yourself with soggy and oily crumbed pork. To keep away from these issues, begin to deep fry in 160-170 diploma celsius (320-338 F) for about 3 minutes then warmth as much as 180 or 190 diploma celsius (356-374 F) and deep fry for a number of extra minutes. It must be evenly golden brown on the skin. While you carry it up out of oil with chopsticks, you may really feel vibration or tremor by the chopsticks.

Right here is my recipe for Tonkatsu and If you happen to favored it, please fee it and go away a remark beneath. Additionally, don’t neglect to observe me on Youtube, Pinterest, Fb , Twitter and Instagram to maintain updated with all the most recent happenings on Chopstick Chronicles. Don’t neglect to make use of the hashtag #ChopstickChronicles so I can see your fantastic creations!