Chicken Katsu (or Tofu Katsu!)

Chicken katsu is a delicious Japanese dish that consists of crispy fried chicken cutlets coated with crunchy Panko breadcrumbs. It’s easy to make at home with a few simple ingredients and some basic techniques. You can serve it with rice, shredded cabbage and a homemade tonkatsu sauce that’s sweet, tangy and savory.

What You’ll Need

To make chicken katsu, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper
• All-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Oil for frying

For the tonkatsu sauce, you’ll need:

• Ketchup
• Worcestershire sauce
• Molasses
• Soy sauce
• Sugar
• Fresh ginger
• Ground cloves

How to Make Chicken Katsu

Follow these steps to make chicken katsu at home:

1. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch. Season them with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. Set up three shallow dishes: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with Panko breadcrumbs.
3. Dredge each chicken breast in flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it in egg, letting any excess drip off. Finally, press it into the Panko, making sure it’s well coated on both sides. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Carefully lower two chicken breasts into the hot oil and fry for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels and season with salt. Repeat with the remaining two chicken breasts.
5. Cut the chicken katsu into slices and serve with rice, shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce.

How to Make Tonkatsu Sauce

Tonkatsu sauce is a Japanese-style barbecue sauce that goes perfectly with chicken katsu. It’s easy to make at home with a few pantry staples. Here’s how:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, soy sauce, sugar, ginger and cloves until well combined.
2. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can make it ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to make your chicken katsu even better:

• If you want to make your chicken katsu extra crispy, you can chill it in the refrigerator for an hour after coating it with Panko. This will help the coating adhere better and prevent it from falling off during frying.
• You can also use pork cutlets instead of chicken to make tonkatsu, which is another popular variation of this dish.
• You can use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of your chicken katsu. It should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
• You can serve your chicken katsu with other side dishes, such as miso soup, seaweed salad or pickled vegetables.

Enjoy Your Chicken Katsu!

Chicken katsu is a satisfying and comforting meal that you can easily make at home. It’s crispy, juicy and flavorful, and pairs well with rice, cabbage and tonkatsu sauce. Try it today and enjoy!