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Tonkatsu - Pork Cutlets

Name: Tonkatsu - Pork Cutlets
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 500 gram (4 pieces) pork loin, each about 125 gram with 1/2 inch thick; salt; pepper; all-purpose flour; 1 egg, beaten; panko bread crumbs; oil for deep-frying, e.g. canola oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil; 6 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 4 tablespoon tomato ketchup; 3 tablespoon soy sauce; cabbage, thinly sliced; red radishes, thinly sliced (optional); lemon, cut into wedges

Last updated: Sep 16, 2020 — Published: Jun 14, 2013 — By: Anita — 5 comments

Learn how to prepare Japanese tonkatsu (pork cutlets) with crispy golden brown skin and tender, juicy meat inside. I even have a recipe for homemade tonkatsu sauce!

I had my very first tonkatsu (豚カツ) in the United States when I was in college, and I have been a fan ever since! Sure I love sushi and ramen and teriyaki and tempura and oh so many other Japanese foods, but I reserve a special place for good tonkatsu on a bowl of rice (katsu-don) in my stomach.

Tonkatsu is a Japanese version of Austrian schnitzel. Thin slices of pork loin, season with salt and pepper, dust with all-purpose flour, coated in egg and panko bread crumbs, and deep-fried until the skin is crispy and golden brown while the meat remains tender and juicy.

It is super easy to cook tonkatsu at home. If you can’t eat pork, you can even try tori katsu, which is a chicken version of tonkatsu.

Ingredients for tonkatsu: pork loin, salt, pepper, all-purpose flour, egg, and panko bread crumbs.

Tonkatsu ingredients

1. Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a simple dish. We need thinly sliced pork loin, salt, pepper, all-purpose flour, egg, and panko bread crumbs.

My favorite brands for panko bread crumbs are Shirakiku and Ottogi, though you can use the more widely available Kikkoman too.

2. Oil for deep-frying

Canola oil, vegetable oil, and peanut oil have a high smoke point and are suitable for deep-frying.

3. Tonkatsu sauce

We usually serve tonkatsu with tonkatsu sauce, such as Bulldog tonkatsu sauce. If your grocery store doesn’t have it, you can make a simple version of a tonkatsu sauce from Worcestershire sauce, tomato ketchup, and soy sauce.

4. Cabbage and lemon

You may also want to serve tonkatsu with shredded raw cabbage and lemon wedges.

Deep fry seasoned and breaded pork loin in a pot of hot oil until the skin is golden brown and crispy.

How to fry tonkatsu

1. Cut the pork loin into thin slices

First, make sure to use thinly sliced pork loin. Most grocery stores sell pork loin with 1 1⁄2 inch thick. If you are lucky, your grocery store may sell thin-sliced pork loin, which is about 1⁄3 of the regular thickness, or about 1⁄2 inch thick.

If your pork loin is thicker than 1/2 inch, be sure to cut them into 1/2 inch thick slices before using. Alternatively, you can use a meat hammer to pound the pork loin into a thinner slice.

2. Season and coat the pork loin

Pat dry pork loins, season both sides with salt and pepper, then give a light dusting of all-purpose flour. Dip into beaten eggs, and coat with panko bread crumbs.

3. Fry tonkatsu

Heat about 2 inches of oil in a pot. Once the oil is hot, or about 170 Celsius (340 Fahrenheit), gently lower the coated pork into hot oil and fry until the skin is crispy and golden brown.

Set aside fried tonkatsu on a wire rack to drain excess oil. Rest for 10 minutes.

4. Serve tonkatsu

Cut tonkatsu into bite-size pieces. Serve with shredded cabbage, lemon wedges, and tonkatsu sauce.