Tonkatsu (pork cutlet) is a very popular dish in Japan. It is usually served with a sweet and slightly spicy brown sauce that goes particularly well with the mild taste of the pork meat, with a side of shredded cabbage and steamed rice. Tonkatsu can be found in many restaurants that specialize in deep-fried foods, as well as in bento lunch boxes sold at railway stations, department stores, and convenience stores. It is a relatively simple dish, but like many simple dishes, it can be difficult to make it perfectly.
The Japanese have established an elaborate philosophy around their cuisine, where the preparation of a meal is considered an art and where a simple bowl of rice is said to come from the gods. But these same gods must have laughed with delight when they tried a piece of tonkatsu, as they knew they had inspired a very mortal cook to create this delicious dish. Born less than a century ago, in a country which is said to be devoid of individualism, tonkatsu is a truly original Japanese invention. And as the Japanese always add their own special touch to whatever they borrow from other cultures, tonkatsu is a specialty with a very unique Japanese taste.
Origin and History
The proper cooking of meat is an art that was built up through the centuries only after many experiments. Although a great variety in methods and seasonings developed, it was pork that we find first served breaded and fried. We may imagine our prehistoric ancestor poking a chunk of mammoth or wild boar’s flesh into the fire and, when the outside was nicely browned and the inside hot, eating it with relish. From this simple beginning, many centuries passed before he discovered that he could place a thin slice of pork in hot fat and, by this method, cook it quickly, sealing in the savory juices. This was, however, the first step in the preparation of that delectable dish which is now served in the four corners of the food-oriented nation of Japan, and known by the name Tonkatsu. Tonkatsu is a contraction of two words: ton, pork, and katsu, cutlet. Tonkatsu is a cutlet of pork that has been breaded with crumbs and fried. Tonkatsu is always served with two special sauces, one of which is called Worcestershire sauce. Nagoya is famous for the production of miso and is located in the central region of Japan.
Cooking is a laborious art. Let’s not trick ourselves. It requires the sweat of a chef in order for him to bring out a fine creation to the table. It is no wonder, then, that we are grateful to the first cook who carefully prepared a piece of meat. The years of cooking from these first foundations have introduced subtle and pleasing changes. A long line of cooks have labored to improve the culinary art. Today we happily embark on gustatory adventures and sample foreign foods. But before the cook’s magical transformation, who was the first to serve appetizing, seasoned meat around a hungry family’s table?
Key Ingredients
To adequately enjoy the taste of Tonkatsu sauce, special care must be taken when making and cooking with the sauce. This particular sauce is quite sweet and may seem simple to make; however, it is very essential that the sauce is not just a mix of flavors but that it embraces the right balance of sweetness and tanginess. This can be achieved through the combination of Worcestershire sauce, tomato ketchup, soy sauce and other secret ingredients added to the mix.
One of the most important steps in preparing and cooking Tonkatsu is choosing the right meat. The ideal meat for Tonkatsu is pork loin, which is the meat that is opposite to the pork belly. Pork loin is a tender and lean cut of meat which contains a decent amount of meat and a small amount of fat running along the edges. This type of meat gives a nice balance of meat and fat when cooked as Tonkatsu. Additionally, the pork fat becomes very tender and juicy with a mild flavor when the pork loin is cooked in the right way, which helps to create an overall enjoyable eating experience.
Preparing the Pork
It is important to tenderize the pork by making small incisions on the surface. This will prevent the meat from shrinking and the breading from peeling off. Additionally, it will cook more evenly and have a nicer presentation. Use a knife to make small incisions along the connective tissue on the back side of the meat. This will also prevent the meat from curling during frying. Next, lightly season the pork with salt and pepper. It’s as simple as that! With a little care and attention to detail, you will have great tonkatsu every time. This is the first step on the journey to becoming a tonkatsu master!
When making tonkatsu, the quality and flavor of the pork are just as important as the preparation. The dish traditionally uses high-quality pork from Japan such as kurobuta (Berkshire), and in some cases, also utilizes longer-aged pork to enhance the flavor. When selecting your pork, look for cuts that are about 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) thick. If your pork is too thick, the outside will be overcooked by the time the inside is done. If your pork is too thin, the inside will be overcooked by the time the breading is finished. Also, if the pork has been refrigerated, let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes so that it cooks more evenly.
Choosing the Right Cut
In addition to choosing the right cut of pork, it’s also important to look for meat that has been properly raised and butchered. If possible, look for pork that is hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and humanely raised. Pork that has been raised on a natural diet and allowed to move around will have a better flavor and texture. When you’re at the butcher or supermarket, look for pork that is pink and marbled with small streaks of white fat. This will indicate that the pork is fresh and will cook up moist and tender.
When it comes to cooking the perfect tonkatsu, choosing the right cut of pork is essential. In Japan, the most popular cuts of pork for tonkatsu are hire-katsu (pork fillet or tenderloin) and rosu-katsu (pork loin). Both of these cuts are lean and tender, and they each have their own unique qualities. Hire-katsu is the more tender of the two cuts and has a milder flavor, while rosu-katsu has a little bit more fat and a stronger pork flavor. Some people also like to use kata-katsu, which is made from pork shoulder, for a more budget-friendly option. This cut has a little more fat and connective tissue, but can be just as delicious if cooked properly.
Tenderizing Techniques
The first technique is to hit the meat. Use a meat pounder or a mallet to hit the meat. Pound from the center to the edges. The center is the thickest part of the meat, so the force of pounding will disperse here, making the meat thinner on the sides. This will make the meat thin in an even manner. The second technique is to cut the connective tissue. When meat is hit or bent, there is a very thin, white line that appears. This is a connective tissue called a “nerve,” and cutting this will prevent the meat from shrinking. The meat will cook up soft and juicy. This is an important step in making good tonkatsu.
Pork is the primary meat in tonkatsu, and it’s important that the pork be tender to make a delicious tonkatsu. Therefore, tenderizing is an important step. The primary technique for tenderizing pork in making tonkatsu is to hit and stretch the meat. You must put strength into making the meat thinner. It’s said that when you hit the meat, the meat tightens, and when it’s tight, it becomes tough. When you stretch it, it loosens and becomes tender, so it’s important to do both.
Breading and Frying
When you bread the cutlets with panko, make sure to press the breadcrumbs onto the meat firmly. This will help the breadcrumbs stick better and prevent them from falling off during frying. To test if the oil is ready for frying, put a small piece of bread in the oil. If it turns golden brown in about 60 seconds, the oil is at the right temperature. Be sure to fry the cutlet on all sides, including the edges, for an even, golden color and an additional crispy texture. The most common way to serve tonkatsu is with shredded cabbage. It is usually dressed with either sesame or a soy sauce-based dressing. I hope this easy guide helps you make delicious tonkatsu at home!
A crucial part of making tonkatsu is breading and frying. You want to fry the pork cutlet until it’s crispy but also juicy on the inside. The best way to do that is to check the color of the raw pork before you fry it. If there is a lot of visible white fat marbled into the meat or if there is a large piece of fat on the edge, make a small cut into the fat. This will prevent the tonkatsu from curling as it shrinks during cooking. Remember to only cut into the fat and not into the meat. If the meat part of the cutlet is too thick, you can also make small cuts around the middle to prevent it from curling.
Creating the Perfect Panko Crust
While creating the perfect panko crust may be a challenge, cooking tonkatsu is actually quite simple. The dish is not only delicious but also visually appealing, and is often served with a sweet and tangy tonkatsu sauce, steamed rice, and shredded cabbage. Tonkatsu sauce is readily available in stores and is usually made with ingredients such as tomatoes, prunes, dates, and various spices. If you prefer to make your own sauce, there are many recipes available that you can use as a guide. Tonkatsu is a dish that is loved by many, and once you master the art of cooking it, you will be able to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal any time you like.
Tonkatsu is a popular Japanese dish that consists of a breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet. The secret to great tonkatsu lies in the perfection of its crispy panko crust and the tenderness of its meat. Creating the perfect panko crust requires some skill – you must first coat the pork cutlet in flour, then dip it in beaten egg, and finally coat it with panko (Japanese bread crumbs) before frying. To ensure that the panko crust is light and crispy, you must fry the cutlet in oil at the correct temperature (around 350-360 degrees F). When done right, the tonkatsu will have a beautiful golden crust that is crispy on the outside but moist and tender on the inside.
Frying Techniques
When frying, do not move the pork cutlet around in the oil. It may stick to the bottom of the pan at first, but will float to the top as it cooks. It is ready to be turned over when it is light golden brown. Then turn over and fry the other side. The pork cutlet is cooked when both sides are a deep golden brown color and the meat inside is white and has lots of juice. Do not cut the pork cutlet while frying to check if it is done. The best way to know if it is cooked is to press it with your spatula; if juice comes out, it is not cooked. If juice doesn’t come out when pressed, it is done.
To deep-fry tonkatsu, use vegetable oil that has a high smoke point. The oil must be deep enough to cover the pork cutlet. Usually, the oil is at a depth of 3 cm when frying tonkatsu. Before frying, the oil should be heated to the proper temperature over a medium flame. To check if the oil is at the correct temperature, drop a few bread crumbs into the oil. If the bread crumb floats to the top and sizzles, the oil is ready. Do not fry the pork cutlet over a high flame as the coating will burn and the meat inside will be undercooked. If fried over a low flame, the coating will become oily and the pork will lose its juicy flavor. Be sure to fry over a medium flame.
Serving and Accompaniments
Offer your guests tonkatsu sauce, spicy mustard, and shredded cabbage to accompany the tonkatsu. Pickled cucumbers and rice are often served as well. While it might seem that the aromas and flavors of tonkatsu might clash with those of the accompaniments, that does not happen in the Japanese meal, as each dish is enjoyed for itself and its flavors are not analyzed in relation to those of the other dishes.
I must stress again that tonkatsu should be served while hot, indeed sizzling from the frying, because the crust is at its best then, being crisp. But if you wish, tonkatsu is also delicious when cold. Set the whole strip on a cutting surface and, using a very sharp knife, cut it into slices about one-half inch wide but do not cut all the way through. Then turn the strip sideways and do the same with this second cut. This should give you the typical presentation of a sliced tonkatsu on a plate, with some slices slightly overlapping.
Traditional Tonkatsu Sauce
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Note that while the ketchup is bringing some sweetness to the sauce, it is not overly sweet. Add more sugar if you like your tonkatsu sauce sweet, or add less sugar if you like it more on the savory side. I recommend tasting the sauce after you make it and adjusting the sweetness level to your liking.
Here is a simple recipe for traditional tonkatsu sauce: – 1/2 cup ketchup – 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar – 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce – 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Tonkatsu sauce is the traditional sauce that is served with tonkatsu. It is similar in color to Worcestershire sauce, but is not nearly as salty. Not even close. It has a mild sweetness and is quite flavorful. I have found that it is not common to find a recipe for homemade tonkatsu sauce, and people usually just buy it at the store pre-made. The sauce is easy to make, so I do recommend making it at home. Not sure what the big secret is with the sauce, but there you go.
Side Dishes and Garnishes
For a more warming winter dish, try serving some Japanese curry on the side. A little white rice topped with tonkatsu, a ladle of curry sauce, and a sprinkling of spring onions is known in Japan as Katsu-karē and is a guaranteed winter warmer. Tonkatsu is said to have originated in the 19th century as a simple and tasty way to use up scraps of meat, and the first recipes for katsu in old Japanese cookbooks often mention that it was accompanied by miso soup, which would have helped to make a small amount of meat go a long way. If you want to keep things traditional, serve your tonkatsu with a bowl of miso soup, a bowl of rice, some pickles, and perhaps a soft-boiled egg. There’s no doubt that tonkatsu is a heavy and filling meal, so it’s best to keep things simple and serve it with light and tasty side dishes.
Balance out the heavy tonkatsu with some crispy, hot, and light accompaniments. A simple white or red cabbage salad with a light dressing or a squirt of lemon can refresh the palate between mouthfuls of katsu. Cabbage is the classic katsu accompaniment in Japan, sliced thinly and often served raw. It’s a traditional and simple way to add freshness to a heavy meal. Alternatively, try some sautéed or steamed greens such as spinach, choy sum, or asparagus. A drizzle of oyster sauce, a few sesame seeds, or a little grated fresh ginger can liven them up.
Tips and Tricks for Perfection
Tonkatsu is best served with tonkatsu sauce (a fruity sauce similar to a thick Worcestershire sauce). It is usually accompanied by shredded cabbage (either eaten as a salad with a simple dressing or served with a sesame sauce) and miso soup. Tonkatsu is often served on a bed of rice (katsudon) or with Japanese curry sauce. The meal is a favorite of Japanese people of all ages. Businessmen often have lunch on it, and children celebrate birthdays by having a party with friends at a tonkatsu restaurant. Although tonkatsu is a quite simple dish to prepare, since restaurants specialize in it, some people seldom make it at home. Buying meat from a butcher would be one option, as you could have him cut special pieces for you, but going to the supermarket would not save you time since their meat is prepackaged. In any case, tonkatsu is a very rewarding dish. Once you have breaded and fried the cutlets, just watch your guests’ delighted faces as they bite into the crispy, juicy meat.
For the perfect tonkatsu, the breading should be thick, and the meat should be juicy and thick as well. When frying the cutlets, the oil should not be too hot, otherwise the breading will brown before the meat is cooked. For a crispy result, the cutlet should be cooked twice – the first time at a lower temperature to cook the meat, and the second time at a higher temperature to color and crisp the breading. It is necessary to press the cutlet with chopsticks or tongs to be sure and drain excess oil. It is essential to eat the tonkatsu as soon as it is ready. It will be at the height of its flavor, warmth, and consistency. If placed on a plate, the steam will soften the breading.