Tonkatsu Japanese Pork Cutlet Food

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.

TONKATSU (JAPANESE PORK CUTLET)

Steps:

• Pound pork to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Coat with flour, then dip into egg, and finally coat thoroughly with Panko.
• Deep fry in 1 inch vegetable oil, heated to 350º, 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
• Serve on bed of shredded cabbage, for presentation.
• Serve with Tonkatsu sauce.
• NOTE: If you can't find Panko, you may use crushed corn flakes.

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 WITH HOMEMADE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce: Stir together the ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mirin, sugar, Dijon and garlic powder in a small bowl. Set aside while you prepare the pork.
• For the pork: Put the flour in a shallow bowl. Whisk the egg with a small splash of water in a second shallow bowl. Add the panko to a deep dish.
• Lightly pound each piece of pork with a meat mallet, then generously sprinkle on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge one cutlet in the flour, coating completely, then shake off any excess. Dip it in the egg mixture, letting any excess drip off, then coat with the panko, gently pressing it into the panko so the crumbs stick. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Heat about 1/3 inch oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Add 2 of the cutlets and cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip the pieces over and cook until almost cooked through but still pink, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer the cutlets to a paper towel-lined cutting board, sprinkle with salt and tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the 2 remaining cutlets.
• For serving: Slice the cutlets crosswise into 1/2-inch strips. Place a sliced cutlet on each plate along with a scoop of rice, a mound of cabbage and 2 tomato wedges and/or cucumber slices, if using. Drizzle the cutlets with the sauce and serve with extra sauce on the side.

KATSU-DON (PORK CUTLET DONBURI)

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil 1-inch deep in frying pan or wok to 340F or until a few breadcrumbs dropped into the middle of the oil surface immediately.
• Trim off fat from the pork and pound it to make it thin.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Dust first with flour, then dip into the beaten egg, then the panko crumbs.
• Fry in the oil until light brown--about 4 minutes/side.
• Drain on paper towels and then cut into 1" strips.
• Mix the broth ingredients together in a bowl.
• Then heat 1/4 of the broth in a separate skillet, bringing it just to a boil.
• Add the slices of 1 pork cutlet and cook one minute.
• When the broth has fully coated the cutlet, pour one portion of the beaten eggs into the skillet and stir.
• Add 2 Tbsp. green peas and cook 30 seconds more.
• Place one serving of rice into a deep bowl, then remove the cutlet and egg mixture from the skillet and place over the rice.
• Repeat this for the remaining servings.

TONKATSU

Steps:

• Pour the oil into a 3-quart (3-liter) cast-iron Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot and heat over medium heat until it reaches 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a sheet tray with paper towels.
• Trim the fat around the edges of the pork chops if desired. Pound the pork chops with a meat mallet to slightly flatten and rub with the salt and pepper.
• Coat and bread your pork chops. Line up three small shallow bowls: one with the flour, one with the beaten eggs and one with the panko. Take one pork chop and lightly flour it on both sides, patting to remove excess flour. Dip the chop into the egg and then coat it generously with panko. Repeat with the remaining chops.
• You are now ready to start frying. Test the temperature of the oil by dropping a few bread crumbs into the oil. If the crumbs sizzle up instantly but do not burn, the temperature is right for frying. Add two chops to the oil and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until they are lightly browned on one side. Flip and fry for another 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned on the second side. The timing will depend on the thickness of the meat and the temperature of the oil. Test for doneness by taking one chop out of the oil when it is lightly browned on both sides and slice it; it should not be pink inside. Be careful not to overcook the pork-you want your cutlets to be tender and juicy. Drain the chops on the paper towel-lined sheet tray to remove excess oil. Remove any crumbs from the oil with a slotted spoon and fry the remaining two chops.
• Slice the pork crosswise about 3/4 inch (2 centimeters) thick and serve over the shredded cabbage with the lemon wedges, your choice of sauce and a bowl of fresh-cooked rice on the side.
• Bring the dashi to a boil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until the liquid thickens and reduces by one-third, stirring frequently so it doesn't burn, 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and make adjustments.
• If you like the sauce sweeter, add more ketchup, sugar or some mirin. If you want the savory flavors to come out, add more soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. The sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Makes 2/3 cup (156 milliliters).