Pork Katsu Sandwich

Pork cutlets sandwiched between slices of bread with a simple cabbage salad and tonkatsu sauce makes for a delicious Japanese-style lunch.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 boneless pork chops, (about 3/4 pound)
• Kosher salt, (as needed)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• Canola oil, (as needed, for frying)
• 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
• 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons tonkatsu sauce
• 4 slices Japanese milk bread, (crusts removed)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Use a mallet to gently pound the pork chops to ½” thickness. Season with salt.
2. 2Set up the dredge for the pork. Add the flour to a shallow bowl. Add the eggs and 2 tablespoons of water to another and beat the eggs. In a third bowl add the panko breadcrumbs.
3. 3Add enough oil to reach at least 1” up the side of a cast iron skillet or a Dutch oven. Heat over medium heat until the oil is 350ºF (180ºC). Working one piece of pork at a time, coat the pork in the flour then coat in the egg wash, letting any excess drip off. Coat in the panko, pressing to adhere the breadcrumbs.
4. 4Carefully lower the pork into the hot oil and fry until crispy and golden brown on the underside, about 1 minute. Use tongs to flip and continue to fry the pork, about another minute.
5. 5Remove to a cooling rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pork.
6. 6Add the cabbage to a small bowl and toss with the rice wine vinegar.
7. 7Spread some of the tonkatsu sauce over the bottom slices of bread then top each with a piece of pork. Drizzle more of the tonkatsu sauce over the top then top with cabbage and close the sandwich. Cut in half or into thirds and serve immediately.