Pork Tonkatsu is a delicious super crispy Japanese Pork Cutlet served with cabbage and a delicious deep flavored dipping sauce.
Why you are going to love our recipe for Pork Tonkatsu
Pork Tonkatsu is super crispy and the pork is melt in your mouth tender. Once you plunge a cutlet into the dipping sauce, you will be forever hooked. Our family loves this recipe and hope yours will too.
Do you ever get Homesick?
Not homesick for my home town in Michigan, but for my second home- JAPAN. This week please take a moment to reflect and send some positive energies to those that are still suffering in Japan after the one year anniversary of the tragic tsunami and Fukushima nuclear incident. Japan you are still in our thoughts and prayers.
We lived in Yokohama, Japan for a period of time and these were some of the happiest and bizarre moments of my life. We lived in Nakaodai and it has some of the narrowest roads in the whole world.
Nuances of Living in Japan
There are streets in which you wonder is this a pedestrian walkway or and actual road? The roads are so narrow that you have to rotate your side view mirrors in to avoid them from from hitting the cement walls around the turns.
I drove in Japan once, for about 100 meters, then promptly got out of the car, handed the keys to my hubby and never took our car out of the underground bat cave carpark again. From that day forward, we named our car, "The Costco Car" as we only used this car to go on big grocery hauls to and from this bulk foods store. So now my life revolved around trains and walking everywhere.
Walking is a lovely way to get to know Yokohama
It gives you a different perspective on the feel for the life of the people. Unlike driving in a car, you can get the chance to look up and see the many stores and restaurants in the levels above the ground level. There is one restaurant that comes to mind but I do not know if it is there any more. However, after you get off the Ishikawacho Eki (train station) you turn right, go through a back alley and there is little 3 table mom and pop restaurant. Great home cooked Japanese Fare and the best Pork Tonkatsu I have ever had.
Hanging on the side of the restaurant all neat and orderly is everyone's Kasa's (umbrellas). I do not even know if this restaurant has a sign in English but once you see the umbrellas you know you are there. Japan is an amazing place. If you can't visit, then at least you can try this super easy recipe for pork tonkatsu.
While living in Japan, I used to participate in cooking classes and enjoyed them immensely. Without further delay, here is my version of pork tonkatsu that my teenage boys just love.
More Delicious Japanese Recipes
Pepper Lunch Steak and Rice Sizzle
Negima Yakitori with Grilled Portobella
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Pork Tonkatsu
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork chops
or 4 boneless pork chops. Thin to medium cut. - salt and pepper to taste
- 2 eggs
beaten - ½ cup flour gluten-free if desired
- ¾ cups panko breadcrumbs
gluten-free if desired - oil for frying - depends on the size of pan (about ½ inch of oil for a shallow fry)
- 4 cups cabbage sliced finely shredded and soaked in water
- tonkatsu sauce
Bulldog Brand and make your own (homemade tonkatsu sauce recipe in the notes below) - optional - cooked rice
for serving - optional - 2 tablespoon green onions
garnish - optional
Instructions
- Remove fat from pork chops and pound flat.
- Salt and pepper pork chops
- Dip pork chops in egg and then into the flour mixture, remove excess flour.
- Dip the floured pork chop back into the egg and then into the panko bread crumbs until well coated. Set aside
- Heat a large skillet with about ½ inch of oil until hot. Lay 1 or 2 cutlets in the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes, turning them once or twice. Drain the cutlets on paper towels and cut the pork into bite-size strips. (Alternatively you can cut down the fat: Heat about 1- 2 tablespoons oil in frying pan and cook on medium heat on each side until golden brown.) In addition, this would be a delicious recipe to try in your air fryer, if you have one.
- Drain cabbage and dry. (traditionally the cabbage is served plain on the side however if you wish you can drizzle a little sesame oil, rice vinegar, dash of sugar, dash of salt and some white pepper and mix it together, its delicious)
- Serve pork tonkatsu with cabbage, rice and drizzled with tonkatsu sauce on top.
Wholesome Cook says
I love Tonkatsu, it's delicious. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories and photos from Japan.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Do Itashimashita! You are welcome.
Lesley says
I would love to visit Japan!
katyarich says
Hola Bam, thanks to share JAPAN with us, it was tragic what happened one year ago..............about your recipe it is just delicious....we love pork Tonkatsu:)
Kathleen Richardson says
Bam, I love the way you immerse yourself in a culture wherever you live. And walking is the best way to get to know a community, as I well know. Another inspiring, delicious-sounding recipe.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Kathleen. People, no matter where you are in the world, are proud of their culture, heritage and food. Understanding these things first is a gateway to friendships all over the world. I just saw your version of the fish sandwich with the yummy avocados on pin interest. I am on my way to your site now. Take care, BAM
Lisa says
I remember very well how sick I felt when the tsanami hit Japan - just watching the videos was horrible. I donated and made some matcha entremets to help get others to donate. I felt so helpless, you know? Still praying for all of those who lost so much.
That said, I always order Tonkatsu while everyone is chowing down on sushi and miso soup lol My favorite Japanese restaurant places a poached egg on top of the pork slices..so good! Yours looks just like theirs, now I need to make it!
Healthy World Cuisine says
We housed some friends here in our apartment in HK who were living in Japan until things settled down in Japan just after the tsunami. It was and still is a difficult time for most. It was amazing how the world came together and gave support. Restorations efforts are still in place. Take Care, BAM
divaofdelicious says
Prayers to your friends and all of the Japanese who suffered loss. Your recipe is beautiful as is your compassion.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you for your kind comments.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks for your Japan Well Wishes! I think your daughter will love this recipe. Be sure to cut the Tonkotsu up in strips which are perfect for dipping in the sauce. A kids favorite...
spicegirlfla says
A little prayer is being sent their way...lovely post and I found it so interesting to hear about city life in Japan. Love the little Costco car 🙂 and even more so this pork recipe. My daughter will just love it!!
Geni - Sweet and Crumby says
What a lovely post and so true that when you walk a city, you really get to know it. My heart aches for those that live in Japan or have lived there. I will say my prayers for the people and let them be a motivation for me to live through life's little bumps in the road without bitterness or whining.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Geni, thanks for keeping Japan in your prayers. Japan is a great motivator for us all to stay stoic and strong during difficult natural disasters or even the small things that seem to disrupt our day. Take care, BAM
Just A Smidgen says
Another earthquake? I didn't hear that in the news here.. what an awful reminder just when they're rebuilding after such devastation. Your blog is a moving tribute to their country and how wonderful to have posted the perfect recipe for it!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Yes another earthquake. Not as big but still very high 6.8 and then as far as Tokyo/Yokohama are feeling the quakes and aftershocks. I hope that the earth's core and crust settle down so that Japan can rest their weary hearts. Take care, BAM
bitsandbreadcrumbs says
Thinking of those in Japan. Never tasted this dish but it looks and sounds great...and easy, too! Will check out your friend's site right now.
Healthy World Cuisine says
You are going to love Nami-san's website. It has everything I love and miss about Japan at your fingertips. Take Care, BAM
Jo-Lyn says
My brother-in-law in in the navy and is stationed in Japan. He is at sea right now so isn't there at the moment, but anyway... will be thinking of you and your family and praying for you and those affected by this. This dish looks/sounds yummy!! Thanks for sharing!
P.S. I thought you were still in Japan?
Healthy World Cuisine says
Dear Jo-Lyn, I am living in Hong Kong now. However, 2.5 years ago I lived in Japan. Japan was my first international assignment and will always will have a special place in my heart. Hoping that your brother in law stays safe in Japan.
Dawn says
How do you get to live in all these cool places?? I love Japan, and your tonkatsu looks AMAZING!!!
Courtney says
This looks so tasty! And I will definitely take a moment to think about Japan - my bestie is an ex-pat in Yokohama (sp?) right now. 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Courtney, thanks for your kind comments. It is such a small world I might even know your friend from Yokohama. I hope she is doing okay as they having some more quakes and aftershocks this week.