Japanese Tonkatsu Food

TONKATSU (JAPANESE PORK CUTLET)

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients. For Tonkatsu, I highly recommend getting fresh panko (we call it nama panko) from a Japanese grocery store. If you can't get it, follow my instructions to make fresh panko. Make sure to use a Japanese brand of panko from Japan. Western "panko breadcrumbs" are a bit different from authentic Japanese panko.

JAPANESE TONKATSU

Steps:

• In a glass bowl stir together ginger, soy sauce, sugar, and sake. Add pork chops, covering completely, and marinade for 30 minutes.
• Remove chops from marinade, dip into the flour, then into the egg, and finally into the breadcrumbs. (This order is important!).
• Fry for 3 minutes on each side, 'til done. Slice into strips and serve warm with rice.

TONKATSU JAPANESE FRIED PORK

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Cut the edge of the pork chops in several places. Season with salt and pepper.
• Set up a breading station with 3 shallow dishes. Place flour in the first dish, lightly beaten egg in the second dish, and panko breadcrumbs in the third dish.
• Coat each pork chop generously with flour, shaking any excess off.
• Dip pork into beaten egg.
• Coat pork with panko breadcrumbs and set aside on a platter.
• In a deep pan, heat the canola oil to around 340 F as measured on a frying thermometer.
• Deep-fry breaded pork for 5 to 6 minutes.
• Turn pork over and fry about 5 more minutes or until cooked through and browned.
• Remove pork from oil and drain on paper towels.
• While pork is resting, finely shred green cabbage and soak in ice-cold water.
• Drain shredded cabbage well.
• Cut each tonkatsu lengthwise into small pieces and serve on plates with a side of the shredded cabbage. Drizzle some of the tonkatsu sauce over tonkatsu before eating. Serve karashi (hot Japanese mustard) on the side if you prefer. Enjoy.

TONKATSU (JAPANESE-STYLE CRISPY FRIED PORK CUTLETS)

Steps:

• Place pork chops on a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Whisk egg and soy sauce together in a small bowl.
• Place flour on a small plate and panko in another. Dredge a pork chop in the flour, pressing it in using your fingertips to cover all crevices along the surface. Turn to evenly coat all sides.
• Dip the pork into the egg mixture, coating completely. Transfer immediately to the bowl of panko, pressing in to evenly coat. Repeat process with the second pork chop.
• Heat oil in a wide pan or wok on medium-high heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lower a pork chop into the oil. Fry until bottom side is golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn; cook until other side turns golden and pork is slightly pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Pick up the cutlet and hold it on its side for a few seconds to let the oil drip off. Drain on a paper towel. Repeat with the second pork chop.

JAPANESE KATSUDON

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan, fry the sliced onion until golden brown, then add the tonkatsu ( see recipe here), placing it in the middle of the pan. Mix the dashi, soy, mirin and sugar together and tip three-quarters of the mixture around the tonkatsu. Sizzle for a couple of mins so the sauce thickens a little and the tonkatsu reheats.
• Tip the beaten eggs around the tonkatsu and cook for 2-3 mins until the egg is cooked through but still a little runny. Divide the rice between two bowls, then top each with half the egg and tonkatsu mix, sprinkle over the chives and serve immediately, drizzling with a little more soy if you want an extra umami kick.

JAPANESE TONKATSU (PORK CHOPS)

Steps:

• Whisk first four ingredients in small measure until combined; set sauce aside.
• Season pork chops (preferably 3/4" thick) with salt and pepper mixture. Dredge each chop in flour, until coated, then dip chops in eggs and then in breadcrumbs, pressing crumbs to adhere.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add pork. Cook first side 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn pork, and cook second side 3 to 4 minutes, adjusting heat, if necessary, so chops cook rapidly but coating does not burn, or until golden brown and cooked through.
• Make a mound of cabbage on each of 4 plates. Drizzle cabbage with a bit of sauce, then top with a chop. Serve with lemon wedges and remaining sauce.