Best Pork Katsu Sandwich Recipes

PORK KATSU SANDO

Steps:

• Using the flat side of a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy skillet, pound each pork chop until 1/4 inch thick and about 3 1/2 by 6 inches. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Put the flour, egg and panko in 3 separate shallow dishes. Dredge the pork in the flour, shaking off the excess, then dip in the egg and dredge in the panko. Set on a plate.
• Fill a large Dutch oven or other pot with 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat until it registers 350˚ F on a deep-fry thermometer. Add the breaded pork and deep-fry, turning once, until golden brown, about 4 minutes.
• Spread the tonkatsu sauce on 2 slices of bread. Top with the fried pork, more tonkatsu sauce and then the shredded cabbage. Spread mustard on the other 2 slices of bread and close the sandwiches. Cut in half.

PORK KATSU WITH PICKLED CUCUMBERS AND SHISO

Steps:

• Place the cucumbers in a colander set over a bowl. Toss them with 1 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon sugar.
• Place each piece of pork between sheets of waxed paper. Pound meat to 1/8-inch thickness.
• Place eggs in a large shallow bowl; whisk in the Worcestershire and tomato paste. Place the panko and flour in two separate shallow bowls.
• Season cutlets with salt and pepper. Dip each cutlet in the flour (tap off excess), the egg mixture (ditto), then dredge in panko crumbs.
• Heat a large pan, pour in 1/8 inch of oil and heat for 30 seconds. Working in batches, put cutlets in the pan. Immediately shake and tilt it so the oil rolls over the pork in waves (this will give it a lighter, crisper crust). Shake the pan occasionally, until cutlets are golden on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip them and shake again. Cook 2 to 3 minutes longer. Transfer pork to a paper-towel-lined platter to drain.
• Pat the cucumbers dry with paper towels. Toss with scallions, vinegar, shiso, soy sauce, sesame oil and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Serve cutlets with pickled cucumbers on the side.

KATSU SANDO

Steps:

• Place the flour in a shallow bowl. Whisk the egg with a small splash of water in another shallow bowl. Place the panko in a deep dish.
• Lightly pound each cutlet with a meat mallet, then generously season on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Dredge a cutlet in the flour, coating completely, then shake off any excess. Dip it in the egg mixture, letting any excess drip off, then coat with the panko, gently pressing so the crumbs adhere. Place the breaded cutlet on a plate and repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Heat 1/3 inch oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Add 2 of the cutlets and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until almost cooked through but still pink in the middle, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a paper towel-lined platter, sprinkle with salt and tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 2 cutlets.
• Lay the bread on a cutting board in 2 rows of 4 slices. Spread each slice with butter. Squeeze about 1 tablespoon of the tonkatsu sauce over the 4 slices on the bottom row. Top each with some cabbage, then top with a fried pork cutlet. Squeeze about 1 more tablespoon of the tonkatsu sauce over each cutlet. Top each sandwich with the remaining bread.
• Set a flat platter or tray on top of the sandwiches on the cutting board, then lightly weigh it down with soup cans or similarly heavy items for about 5 minutes. Cut the sandwiches in half on the diagonal, wiping the blade clean between cuts.

PORK KATSU SANDO WITH HEARTY WINTER GREENS

Steps:

• For the katsu: Pound the pork loins out with a meat mallet or rolling pin between 2 pieces of plastic wrap to about 1/2-inch-thick and roughly the size of a piece of sandwich bread. Salt and pepper both sides.
• Set up a breading station: Place the flour and some salt in one shallow dish, eggs with a dash of water and a pinch of salt in the second dish and panko in the third dish. Working with one piece of pork at a time, coat the pork in the flour and shake off the excess. Dip in the egg and drain the excess, then dredge in the panko. (Make sure the panko coats all sides.) Transfer to a plate.
• Season the mayo: Whisk together the mayo, vinegar, gochujang, sugar and wasabi in a small bowl until smooth; set aside.
• Fry: In a 12-inch skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat to 325 degrees F. Place the pork in the oil in batches and fry, flipping halfway through, until both sides are golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Adjust the heat as necessary. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• Assemble: Spread the mayo on the bread. Place the pork on one piece of bread and top with another. Trim the edges to create a square, crustless sandwich. The meat should be fully exposed on the edges, so that you can see the interior. Cut the square in half on the bias. Repeat to make another. Serve the sandos with the salad.
• For the salad: Whisk together the oil, vinegar and mustard in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Toss the endive, frisee and mustard greens in a large bowl and add the vinaigrette; toss.