As one of the most popular dishes in Japan, chicken katsu has made quite a name for itself.
As one of the most popular dishes in Japan, chicken katsu has made quite a name for itself. It’s also known as panko chicken and is becoming more and more common in Australia, London, California, and beyond. It’s defined by a fried chicken cutlet, with crispy panko bread crumbs that help it soak up the tonkatsu sauce, a pureed fruit-based brown sauce, or sometimes even made with a base of ketchup. Tonkatsu sauce gets its name from the original dish, tonkatsu itself being a fried pork cutlet served with the same sauce and can be traced back to 19th century Japan. Today, we’re keeping it simple with a chicken katsu recipe that you can easily whip up for a weeknight dinner.
What Can You Serve It With?
Before we get into the recipe, let’s think about some potential sides! Often, you’ll find shredded cabbage served on the side as a simple way to give the dish some balanced freshness. If you’re looking for something with a bit more textural contrast, consider miso soup, a Japanese classic. However, you can’t go wrong with white rice and some roasted veggies. Just don’t forget the sauce, which is essential for the experience.
Needed Ingredients
This chicken katsu recipe calls for:
- Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves that are pounded out
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 cup of panko bread cups
- Frying oil as needed
Make Your Chicken Katsu!
Give the chicken breasts a basic seasoning with salt and pepper. Separate your flour, egg, and panko crumbs into shallow dishes. Lay each breast into the flour, then egg, and panko crumbs. Be sure to shake off any excess along the way while also ensuring everything is coated uniformly and completely;
while doing so, heat ¼ inch of oil in a large skillet. Use medium-high heat to reach frying temps and then place the chicken in the oil, laying it slowly and away from you so it fries. Let it cook for 3 or 4 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy.
What About the Sauce?
Good tonkatsu sauce is available at many grocers these days, so you can save yourself some time when making this recipe. However, if you’d like, give this recipe a try: combine 1 Tbsp ketchup, 2½ tsp Worcestershire sauce (try Japanese brands for a milder taste), 1½ tsp oyster sauce, and 1⅛ tsp of sugar (or more, to taste). Whisk and enjoy!
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