Tonkatsu Recipe- Air Fry method

Tonkatsu is a popular Japanese dish served with rice, sandwiches, noodles, etc. The word “ton” means pork and “katsu” refers to the process in which pork is covered in bread crumbs and deep fried. Traditionally, tonkatsu is deep fried in oil, however, there is a more efficient way to make it in an air fryer without compromising its taste or texture. This recipe post is all about how to make the easiest and quickest 5-ingredient tonkatsu using an air fryer. 

Katsu meaning

Like I mentioned above, katsu means deep fried pork cutlet. However, the word katsu in Japanese also means to win. My mom used to make tonkatsu for my brothers and I before a game or tournament as a symbol of her well wishes and good luck to us. Although it is a play on word, I think it is a nice way to show support to someone. If you or someone you love needs a little good luck, try making this for them to show them your love and support. 

Tonkatsu sauce

I grew up eating tonkatsu sauce on just about everything. I put it over eggs, on rice, on pasta, and of course katsu. There are many types of katsu sauce, but my favorite is the Bull Dog brand which has been a staple in my family.

You can eat tonkatsu with just the tonkatsu sauce, or create a concoction of your own sauces. I usually like to mix my tonkatsu sauce with Kewpie mayo! The creaminess from the mayo compliments the tonkatsu so well. Try it out and see how you like it.

Another common way to eat tonkatsu is with karashi or Japanese hot mustard. The kick from the karashi balances out the greasiness of the tonkatsu for a well rounded flavor. Karashi is a little spicy similar to the way wasabi is so make sure to only use a little at a time.

Variation of Katsu

You may have heard of katsu used in many different ways. Here are a few:

• Katsudon – this is a type of donburi where tonkatsu is cooked in a flavorful soy sauce base with eggs and served over rice. “Don” is short for donburi which means rice bowl.
• Chicken katsu – another type of katsu but instead of ton or pork, it is made from chicken.
• Salmon katsu – similar to tonkatsu but salmon is breaded and deep fried
• Katsu curry – tonkatsu is served over curry rice
• Gyukatsu – “gyu” means beef in Japanese. This is beef katsu.
• Tonkatsu sando – this is a type of sandwich that is made with a layer of tonkatsu, shredded cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce sandwiched between two slices of Japanese milk bread. “Sando” in Japanese means sandwich.

Tips on making Tonkatsu Recipe in air fryer

• Do not skip pan frying the panko crumbs. This is more for visual presentation, however, this will ensure a nice golden brown crust. If you skip this part, the tonkatsu will turn out blotchy with some dark and white areas even though the pork is fully cooked.
• Make sure to firmly pat down the panko crust on the pork. This will make sure the panko is stuck onto the pork and there are no bald spots. You don’t want to end up with half covered tonkatsu.
• Flip tonkatsu half way through cooking. This will ensure pork is cooked evenly on both sides. Increase the cooking time depending on thickness and size of pork.

Other air fryer recipes:

• Yaki Onigiri Recipe: Click here
• Karaage Chicken Recipe: Click here
• Teriyaki Black Cod Recipe: Click here
• Creamy Mentaiko Yaki Onigiri Recipe: Click here

Links to some products used for this Tonkatsu recipe

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