Pork Katsu Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Pork loin chops flattened until thin and tender, coated in panko crumbs and fried to crispy, golden brown perfection. So delicious, this pork katsu is a comfort dish great for lunch or dinner any day of the week!

If you’re looking for more tasty recipes inspired by Japanese cuisine, I’ve got you covered! Try this yakitori chicken, teriyaki chicken, or some stir-fried udon noodles!

Pork Katsu Recipe - The Recipe Critic (1)

Pork Katsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet)

Pork katsu, also called tonkatsu or katsuretsu in Japan or donkatsu in Korea, is one of my favorite Asian comfort food dishes. So golden and crispy, but nice and tender on the inside. It’s a variation of the German pork schnitzel, with a coating that’s a little bit thicker and more crispy. What also makes pork katsu so good is the katsu sauce it’s served with. It’s like a sweet and savory Asian barbecue sauce and complements the golden, crunchy goodness of the katsu so well.

This pork katsu recipe is definitely picky eater-approved. My kids couldn’t get enough! Good thing it’s easy to batter and fry, and only requires a few simple ingredients. You can even make some fresh katsu sauce with just a few pantry staples. Cook up some fresh white rice and add a fried egg to create a pork katsu bowl, (also known as katsudon) and enjoy!

Ingredient List

Serve some shredded cabbage alongside your pork katsu and cook up white rice to complete the meal. And remember, the katsu sauce is what ties everything together, so pour it on thick! Note: all measurements are in the recipe card at the end of the post.

  • Boneless, Skinless Pork Loin Chops: These are the canvas for the pork katsu. Trim off any extra fat, then pound them thin for even cooking and maximum crunch.
  • Salt & Pepper: Simple seasonings to add flavor to the flour mixture.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Helps the egg stick and forms the base for our crispy panko breading.
  • Eggs: These bind the flour and crumbs, creating a smooth, even coating.
  • Panko Breadcrumbs: Coarse and airy, they fry up light and golden. It’s what makes pork katsu so good.
  • Katsu Sauce: A must-make! Tonkatsu sauce is a mix of ketchup, Worcestershire, sugar, and umami-packed oyster sauce. It ties everything together with a burst of flavor.
  • Oil for Frying: Choose a neutral oil, like canola or vegetable, and keep it sizzling hot for that perfect crispy crust.

Let’s Make Pork Katsu!

Get that oil nice and hot, because it’s time to make some crispy pork cutlets that the whole family will love. Mine can’t get enough of this amazing Japanese dish!

  1. Breading Station: Whisk together the flour, salt and pepper and place it into one flat dish. Remove 1 tablespoon of the flour and whisk it into the eggs, pour the egg mixture into another flat dish. In a third flat dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
  2. Tenderize: Cut slits into the edges of each pork loin, to keep them from curling up as they cook. Use a meat tenderizer and flatten them until they are about 1 inch thick.
  3. Coat: Dredge each pork loin in the flour, next coat them in the eggs, allowing any excess eggs to drip off before coating in the panko. Coat the pork thoroughly in bread crumbs and then set aside.
  4. Heat Oil: Heat about an inch of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, the oil should sizzle when a toothpick is inserted into it.
  5. Fry: Place the breaded pork into the hot oil and fry the pork for about 5-6 minutes on each side. The pork should be a golden brown and be cooked through.
  6. Cool: Remove the fried pork from the oil and place it on a paper towel lined plate or cooling rack to let any excess oil run off.
  7. Sauce Mixture: Make the katsu sauce by whisking together the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.
  8. Serve: Pour the katsu sauce over the tonkatsu and serve on a bed of cabbage or rice and enjoy!
Pork Katsu Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2)

Tips for the Best Pork Katsu

  • Press in the Coating: Press the panko crumbs onto the coated pork with your palm. This seals the crumbs in place, preventing them from detaching during frying.
  • Oil Temperature: Maintain oil temperature at a steady 340 degrees F. Use a thermometer or the toothpick test (tiny bubbles around the edges). Too hot and your katsu burns, too low and it becomes soggy.
  • Double Fry: For extra-crispy pork katsu, consider a double fry. Fry the katsu as directed, let it rest, then re-dip and fry for another minute or so. This ensures a shatteringly crisp crust while also keeping the pork juicy inside.

Serve With Sauce

Tonkatsu is typically served with katsu sauce but it also goes great with Teriyaki Sauce!

Pork Katsu Recipe - The Recipe Critic (3)

Storing Leftover Pork Katsu

Pork katsu is best served freshly fried and crispy, but if you have leftovers, here’s how to keep them tasting delicious.

  • In the Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Reheating: To keep things crispy, I recommend reheating your pork katsu in either the air fryer or oven. 5 minutes in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or 10 minutes in the oven at 375. If using an air fryer, I recommend only reheating one or two cutlets at a time so there’s plenty of air flow.

Storing Katsu Sauce

Katsu sauce will stay good in a sealed jar or container for one week in the fridge. The ingredients may settle as it sits, so give it a quick stir before you use it.

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Pork Katsu (Tonkatsu)

5 from 1 vote

By: Alyssa Rivers

Pork loin chops flattened until thin and tender, coated in panko crumbs and fried to crispy, golden brown perfection. So delicious, this pork katsu is a comfort dish great for lunch or dinner any day of the week!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 Pork Katsus

Ingredients

Katsu Sauce

Instructions

  • Whisk together the flour, salt and pepper and place it into one flat dish. Remove 1 tablespoon of the flour and whisk it into the eggs, pour the egg mixture into another flat dish. In a third flat dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.

  • Cut slits into the edges of each pork loin, to keep them from curling up as they cook. Use a meat tenderizer and flatten them until they are about 1 inch thick.

  • Dredge each pork loin in the flour, next coat them in the eggs, allowing any excess eggs to drip off before coating in the panko. Coat the pork thoroughly in bread crumbs and set aside.

  • Heat about an inch of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, the oil should sizzle when a toothpick is inserted into it.

  • Place the breaded pork into the hot oil and fry the pork for about 5-6 minutes on each side. The pork should be a golden brown and be cooked through.

  • Remove the cooked pork from the oil and place it on a paper towel lined plate to let any excess oil run off.

  • Make the katsu sauce by whisking together the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.

  • Pour the katsu sauce over the tonkatsu and serve on a bed of cabbage or rice and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1pork katsuCalories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 96gProtein: 17gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 2651mgPotassium: 514mgFiber: 4gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 417IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 157mgIron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, lunch

Cuisine: Japanese, japanese american

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Pork Katsu Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What cut of pork is best for katsu? ›

There are two main cuts of pork used for tonkatsu: hire-katsu meaning “pork fillet”, and rosu-katsu, meaning “pork roast”. Hire-katsu is made with a lean pork tenderloin, while rosu-katsu uses a richer cut of pork that comes with a strip of fat along the side.

What is the difference between katsu and tonkatsu? ›

The simplest phonetic translation of "cutlet" to Japanese vocalizations is katsuretsu, which in turn is shortened to katsu. Add ton—the Sino-Japanese word for "pork"—to the front of that and you've got tonkatsu, or breaded fried pork cutlets (not to be confused with tonkotsu, which is pork-based ramen broth). * Got it?

What is the best oil for tonkatsu? ›

Oil - I recommend using a neutral oil with a high smoke point. Rice bran oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil are ideal, but canola or sunflower oil will work as well. Tonkatsu Sauce - This sweet, tangy sauce is a perfect complement to the savory pork cutlet, bringing a balance of flavors that is distinctly Japanese.

What to serve with pork tonkatsu? ›

To serve. Divide hot steamed rice between the two plates. Slice pork cutlet into two centimetre wide strips and place on top of the rice. Drizzle cutlet with tonkatsu sauce and salad with sesame dressing.

What's the difference between pork katsu and schnitzel? ›

Thanks to a coating of fluffy, brittle panko instead of regular bread crumbs, tonkatsu (or pork katsu) is crunchier than most pork schnitzel, and the accompanying sauce gives it a jolt of tangy flavor. Pork katsu is easy to make at home, especially if you borrow some techniques from its schnitzel sibling.

What is the 3 most popular cuts of pork? ›

This is your guide to getting better acquainted with the five most popular cuts of pork: chops, tenderloin, loin roast, spareribs, and shoulder.

What does katsu mean in English? ›

Meaning of katsu in English

a Japanese dish consisting of a piece of meat, usually chicken, or vegetable, covered in bread crumbs, fried, then usually cut into strips and eaten with a sauce: One of my favorite dishes growing up, chicken katsu is basically the Japanese version of fried chicken.

How healthy is katsu? ›

The curry is a sauce that tends to be milder in flavor than other curries. Unfortunately, katsu curry can be high in calories and not very healthy for you. Curries, in general, tend to be more fattening than people expect. If you're looking for a way to make your favorite dish waistline-friendly, look no further.

What is katsu sauce made of? ›

This sauce is the traditional Japanese accompaniment for tonkatsu — Japanese-style breaded pork cutlets. It's made from a specially balanced blend of applesauce, onion, tomato paste, carrots and traditionally brewed Kikkoman® Soy Sauce that adds flavor to meat and poultry.

Is cornstarch or flour better for tonkatsu? ›

Cornstarch Vs Flour

If you don't have cornstarch, use flour. Both will work! I have made tonkatsu with both, and I prefer cornstarch because I feel that it clings to the pork better and yields a crispier crunch.

Why is my tonkatsu soggy? ›

Using a deep-fry thermometer like ChefAlarm® to keep track of your oil temps, helping you to adjust your flame as needed, is key for a fry like this with a narrow temperature window. Cooking this too hot will char your delicate breadcrumbs, and cooking it too cold will give you soggy, oily katsu.

Can I shallow fry tonkatsu? ›

Shallow frying is fine. Just don't try to flip it too early or you'll risk knocking the crumb off. In fact don't touch it at all once it is in the oil until it is time to flip.

Why cabbage with tonkatsu? ›

The pork cutlet is deep-fried, so, naturally, it's a greasy food that's not so good for our stomach, but when it's eaten with raw cabbage, this helps aid digestion. The dietary fiber in cabbage suppresses and slows the absorption of fat and helps feed healthy gut bacteria to keep your digestive system functioning well.

Why do Japanese love cabbage? ›

Cabbage is an inexpensive, versatile vegetable used to add nutrition and flavor to a broad range of meals. Cabbage is often sliced into thin strips to be served with korokke, tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet) or other fried dishes. It is also an important ingredient for okonomiyaki.

What cut of pork to use for tonkatsu? ›

Tonkatsu (とんかつ, "pork cutlet") are thick slices of pork that are breaded and deep fried in a manner similar to German schnitzel. They are typically made from two cuts of pork: the lean and tender hire (ヒレ, tenderloin or filet) and the fattier rosu (ロース, loin).

What cut of pork is best for shredded pork? ›

Pork shoulder is ideal for pulling purposes. It has an optimum fat content that yields to create tender, melty meat, but it's essential you cook it slowly to allow the protein to break down properly.

What meat is katsu made of? ›

Katsu, a popular Japanese comfort food of breaded cutlets, is commonly made with chicken or pork. For this chicken version, boneless chicken breasts are pounded thin, dredged in flour, egg and panko, then fried until golden brown for an irresistible crispy crust that yields to — and protects — juicy meat inside.

Which part of pork is best for pork chop? ›

Loin: The area between the shoulder and back legs is the leanest, most tender part of the animal. Rib and loin chops are cut from this area, as are pork loin roasts and tenderloin roasts. These cuts will be dry if overcooked.

What is the best tender pork cut? ›

The tenderloin is the most tender meat found on the pig and is exceptionally versatile. Tenderloins are boneless, making them easy to cook whole or break down into pieces. Tenderloins can overcook easily, so ensure you have your thermometer.

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