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Japanese Pork Katsu (Tonkatsu)

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this is the best homemade Tonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet) recipe!

Ingredients

  • Pork
  • 2 boneless pork loin chops ½ inch thick
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups neutral-flavored oil vegetable or canola
  • Coating
  • 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour plain flour
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 Tablespoon Natural Flavored Oil vegetable or canola
  • ½ Cup Panko Japanese Breadcrumbs
  • For Serving
  • ¼ head of cabbage thinly sliced
  • 1 Persian or Japanese Cucumber thinly sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons Japanese Sesame Dressing get the recipe here
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Instructions

  • With a sharp knife, remove any extra fat and make several slits on the white part of the pork. The slits will allow the Tonkatsu to stay flat.
  • Pound both sides of the meat with the back of a knife or a meat tenderizer/mallet.
  • Mold the meat with your hands back to it's original shape and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Crack an egg in a deep dish and add water. Whisk together until well combined.
  • In a separate dish, add the flour.
  • Dredge the pork in the flour. Shake off any excess. Then dip the pork into the egg mixture and coat well.
  • Dredge the pork in the panic, gently pressing down the park onto the pork and then gently shaking off any excess before placing the pork pieces onto a tray or plate. Set aside for 5-10 mintues to let the breading set.
  • Add the oil to the pot and bring to 340 degrees over medium heat.
  • Gently put one piece of the breaded pork into the oil and cook for 1 minute. Flip the pork and cook the other side for 1 minute.
  • Remove the pork from the oil and let excess oil drip off. Place on a wire rack or paper towel for 4 mintues.
  • Fry the other breaded pork.
  • Bring the temperature of the oil back to 340 degrees and fry the first pork chop again, for 30 seconds,  flip and fry for another 30 seconds.
  • Cut the Tonkatsu into wide slices.
  • Transfer to a plate and serve with shredded cabbage and cucumber, sesame dressing, and the sesame Tonkatsu Sauce.