Tonkatsu – Japanese Fried Pork Chops (CRISPY)

Did anyone else drool while playing Cooking Mama? Welcome to my new series for May, where I share my favorite recipes inspired by my favorite game, Cooking Mama! 

We will be making EXTRA CRISPY and CRUNCHY Tonkatsu – Japanese Fried Pork Chops to start the series. I tested five different methods for this recipe, and I promise that your Tonkatsu will be crispy every single time!

Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and dipped in homemade Tonkatsu Sauce. You don’t want to miss out on this recipe! 

Tonkatsu is my favorite Japanese dish of all time; that is why I am confident that you will LOVE this recipe because I am extra picky when it comes to fried pork chops.

I am using a batter today; not only will this help ensure that the panko stays on, but it will also help protect the meat to ensure it is juicy on the inside while crispy on the outside.

I also like using a batter because this will prevent the skin from getting soggy when done frying. With many other methods, the panko doesn’t stay crunchy long, but with this method, it is super crunch even after HOURS of frying. 

Homemade Tonkatsu sauce is SUPER delicious and easy to make at home.

It is savory, tangy, and slightly sweet, pairs perfectly with crispy fried Tonkatsu. All you need is ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, soy sauce, and roasted sesame seeds. I recommend using Japanese Bulldog Worcestershire sauce if you can find it; however, if you can’t, any brand will do.

I am also freshly grounding my sesame seeds to enhance the flavor; you can skip this step if you don’t have one at home. 

I like to pair my Tonkatsu with a big bowl of hot rice and also a side of shredded fresh cabbage.

If you don’t eat pork, don’t worry, you can substitute it with chicken breast or thigh. Next week, I will share my second favorite dish, Chicken Katsu Don, so make sure to stay tuned! And for all my vegetarian friends, don’t worry, I got recipes in this series for you as well! 

Do you like Japanese Food? Here are my personal favorite EASY Japanese dishes! 

• Takoyaki – Japanese Fried Octopus Balls
• CRISPY Chicken Karaage – Japanese Fried Chicken
• Japanese Chicken Skewers – Yakitori (Super Easy!)
• Yakisoba – Japanese Fried Noodles (20 Minutes)

Ingredients 

• 4 Pork Chops 
• 2 Eggs 
• ½ cup of Flour 
• ¼ cup of COLD Water 
• Salt and Pepper 
• 2 cups of Panko 

Tonkatsu Sauce 

• 2 tbsp of Soy Sauce 
• 2 tbsp of Ketchup
• 3 tbsp of Worcestershire Sauce 
• 1 tbsp of Roasted Sesame Seeds  (grounded) 
• 1.5 tbsp of Sugar 

1. Prepare the pork chop by cutting through the fat to prevent it from curling. Using the back of the knife, flatten the meat to help tenderize it. Using your palm, form the pork chop back to its shape—salt and pepper to season on both sides. 
2. In a bowl, mix flour, cold water, and two eggs till everything is combined. You want a thick but smooth consistency (refer to video tutorial) and add more flour or water until the batter reaches the consistency. 
3. Generously coat the pork chop in the batter and then in panko. Make sure to pat it, so every part of the pork chop is coated in panko. 
4. In a pan, add in oil; once the oil is hot (test by adding in a piece of panko, it floats within 5 seconds, it is ready), add in the pork chop. Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side or until crispy and golden brown. Remove and let it rest on a paper towel. 
5. To make the sauce, mix soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, ketchup, and freshly roasted sesame seeds. 

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5 from 2 votes

Tonkatsu – Japanese Fried Pork Chops

Did you anyone else drool while playing Cooking Mama? Welcome to my new series for May, where I share my favorite recipes inspired by my favorite game, Cooking Mama! We will be making EXTRA CRISPY and CRUNCHY Tonkatsu – Japanese Fried Pork Chops to start the series. I tested five different methods for this recipe, and I promise that your Tonkatsu will be crispy every single time! Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and dipped in homemade Tonkatsu Sauce. You don’t want to miss out on this recipe!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Active Time15 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Asian, Japanese

Keyword: Asian Food, Asian Recipes, crispy, Easy, Easy Recipes, Japanese Food, Street Food

Yield: 4 People

Materials

• 4 Pork Chops
• 2 Eggs
• ½ cup of Flour
• ¼ cup of COLD Water
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 cups of Panko

Tonkatsu Sauce

• 2 tbsp of Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp of Ketchup
• 3 tbsp of Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tbsp of Roasted Sesame Seeds grounded
• 1.5 tbsp of Sugar

Instructions

• Prepare the pork chop by cutting through the fat to prevent it from curling. Using the back of the knife, flatten the meat to help tenderize it. Using your palm, form the pork chop back to its shape—salt and pepper to season on both sides.
  
• In a bowl, mix flour, cold water, and two eggs till everything is combined. You want a thick but smooth consistency (refer to video tutorial) and add more flour or water until the batter reaches the consistency.
• Generously coat the pork chop in the batter and then in panko. Make sure to pat it, so every part of the pork chop is coated in panko.
• In a pan, add in oil; once the oil is hot (test by adding in a piece of panko, it floats within 5 seconds, it is ready), add in the pork chop. Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side or until crispy and golden brown. Remove and let it rest on a paper towel.
• To make the sauce, mix soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, ketchup, and freshly roasted sesame seeds.

Video

Notes

If you don’t eat pork, don’t worry, you can substitute it with chicken breast or thigh.