{"id":6366,"date":"2012-12-20T00:01:54","date_gmt":"2012-12-20T06:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=6076"},"modified":"2012-12-20T00:01:54","modified_gmt":"2012-12-20T06:01:54","slug":"gch-whats-on-your-plate-tonkatsu-japanese-pork-cutlet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2012\/12\/20\/gch-whats-on-your-plate-tonkatsu-japanese-pork-cutlet\/","title":{"rendered":"GCH: What’s on Your Plate? Tonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"pork-tonkatsu\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Don’t let the name fool you – there’s a good chance you’ve had Tonkatsu before. \u00a0A staple of Japanese restaurants, this pounded, breaded and fried pork cutlet is a crunchy counterpoint to rice and Miso soup. \u00a0Another place you may have come across Tonkatsu is on vacation! \u00a0Tonkatsu is the most popular choice on Hawaii’s “plate lunch” menus, served alongside rice and macaroni salad. \u00a0If you are still unfamiliar with this deep-fried Asian delicacy, don’t give up – it is incredibly easy to make at home, and it’s just as tasty and satisfying as a bowl of potato chips!<\/p>\n

The only ingredient you may not have in your pantry is panko. \u00a0Panko is Japanese breadcrumbs, and it’s what takes this dish from Shake-and-Bake to “Arigato!” \u00a0You can find it in your grocery store if it has an “Asian” section, or at any Whole Foods or Japanese market. \u00a0Aside from making Tonkatsu and Tempura so delicious and crispy, I use it in place of regular breadcrumbs on top of casseroles. \u00a0It stays fluffy and crunchy and doesn’t get soggy. \u00a0Trust me and use it on top of baked macaroni and cheese – fantastic!<\/p>\n

As far as serving Tonkatsu, you have a lot of options. \u00a0There are many brands of Katsu sauce (katsu is the name of the preparation, so you could make chicken katsu, ground beef katsu, even ham katsu, if the mood struck), but through much arduous research and hours of scholarly pursuit, I found you can easily make it at home. \u00a0(Just kidding – I read the ingredients on all the bottles!) \u00a0I’ve included my take on Katsu sauce, but you can also serve it with other Asian sauces – Citrusy Ponzu sauce, Sweet and Spicy Chinese Plum sauce, or like the Hawaiians, with a bottle of fiery Sriracha at hand!<\/p>\n

Don’t feel like Miso Soup as an accompaniment? \u00a0Don’t worry. \u00a0Serve Tonkatsu with a green salad and pasta. \u00a0Serve it Korean-style, with banchans, kimchee and rice. \u00a0Get wacky and serve it on a roll as a sandwich! \u00a0Next time I make it, I’m serving it club-style on wheat bread, with lettuce, avocado, and maybe a jury-rigged spicy mayo. \u00a0The sky’s the limit; get frying!<\/p>\n

Tonkatsu<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ingredients:<\/p>\n