What is chicken katsu?

If you haven’t tried chicken katsu before, you are in for such a treat! Chicken katsu is a popular Japanese dish of deep-fried, panko breadcrumbed chicken which is often served with an aromatic curry sauce and rice. It has a gloriously golden colour and deliciously crispy, crunchy texture which is just too good to resist. I love thinking of ways to put twists on classics, so I came up with this Japanese Chicken Katsu Sandwich as a new way to try the iconic staple.

What are panko breadcrumbs?

Panko breadcrumbs are the most delicious Japanese-style breadcrumbs made from white bread that has been blitzed into crumbs and dried (so they absorb less oil than traditional breadcrumbs giving lighter, crunchier results). They are typically used in Japanese dishes like Tonkatsu and Chicken Katsu, but are equally delicious on Chicken Kyiv or Schnitzel. They are my go-to when I want to add a bit of crunch, such as in my Crispy Panko Prawn Tacos with Avocado Cream, Crunchy Slaw and Sriracha Drizzle and Four Cheese Macaroni Cheese with Panko Breadcrumbs .

What is tonkatsu sauce?

If you haven’t heard of it before, tonkatsu sauce is a delicious Japanese sauce - a bit like BBQ sauce. It has an umami-rich savoury, sweet flavour with a bit of tang, and is traditionally served with fried pork cutlets (but I love it served with all sorts of Asian dishes - it works brilliantly with my Japanese Shrimp Tempura (Ebi Tempura ).

What other sauces, salads and fillings can I add to a Chicken Katsu Sandwich?

This Chicken Katsu Sandwich is super versatile, so you can switch up the fillings depending on your own personal tastes and what you have already. Shredded white cabbage adds a delicious crunch, but red would work equally well - although if it is too crunchy for you, shredded gem lettuce still offers crispness. Equally, I love the sweety, tangy flavour of the honey and rice vinegar Kewpie mayonnaise, but you could opt for a smoky sriracha mayonnaise (just swirl some spicy sriracha sauce through your mayonnaise) or an aromatic curry mayonnaise (by adding a pinch of curry powder to your mayonnaise) if you prefer. You could even turn this into a Chicken Katsu Toastie and include a layer of cheese (which will go gloriously molten and gooey) after a few minutes in a toastie press.

Can I make a plant-based version of this Chicken Katsu Sandwich?

Yes! Obviously it would no longer be a Chicken Katsu Sandwich… Simply swap the chicken breast for extra firm tofu - it takes on the flavours so well. It isn’t as simple to make a vegan version as this recipe uses egg in the crispy golden breadcrumb coating so I wouldn’t recommend trying it without. Let me know in the comments if you would like me to work on a vegan version of this Japanese chicken sandwich…

Chicken Katsu Sandwich

Name: Chicken Katsu Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 1 chicken breast; 75g panko breadcrumbs; 50g plain flour; 2 tsp sesame seeds; 1 large egg; 2 tbsp sunflower oil; 2 tbsp ketchup; 2 tbsp runny honey; 1 tbsp soy sauce; ¼ tsp grated garlic; ¼ tsp grated ginger; 2 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise; ½ tsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp runny honey; 4 thick fresh slices of white bread; White cabbage, finely shredded

Chicken Katsu Sandwich

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Imagine crispy sesame-panko breadcrumbed butterflied chicken breast pieces, nestled amongst crunchy shredded cabbage, tangy tonkatsu sauce and creamy Kewpie mayonnaise, all sandwiched between two thick slices of soft white bread. You are in for such a treat…

Author: Margie
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 2
Category: Lunch
Method: Pan Fried
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

Scale

For the katsu chicken:

1 chicken breast
75g panko breadcrumbs
50g plain flour
2 tsp sesame seeds
1 large egg
2 tbsp sunflower oil

For the tonkatsu sauce:

2 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp runny honey
1 tbsp soy sauce
¼ tsp grated garlic
¼ tsp grated ginger

For the mayonnaise:

2 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise
½ tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp runny honey

To serve:

4 thick fresh slices of white bread
White cabbage, finely shredded

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200C Fan.
For the chicken katsu: butterfly the chicken breast length ways to create two thin pieces.
Place the breadcrumbs, flour and egg into 3 separate bowls. Mix the sesame seeds through the breadcrumbs until well combined.
Place the chicken in the flour, turning to coat completely. Next, pop into the bowl with the egg, once again, turning to completely coat. Finally, pop into the bowl with the sesame-breadcrumbs, making sure it is well coated on all sides.
Place on a baking sheet, then brush each side with a little sunflower oil.
Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, turning halfway through, or until golden and crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through on the inside (there should be no pink remaining) - the exact length of time will depend on the size, shape and thickness of your chicken katsu.
Meanwhile, make the tonkatsu sauce: in a small bowl, mix together the ketchup, runny honey, soy sauce, grated garlic and ginger. Taste and adjust the flavours, as necessary.
Next, make the mayonnaise: mix together the mayonnaise, rice vinegar and runny honey in a small bowl. Taste and adjust the flavours, as necessary.
To assemble your Chicken Katsu Sandwiches: spread a generous dollop of the mayonnaise on each slice of bread. Top with a spoonful of tonkatsu sauce and spread in a smooth and even layer. Top with a piece of crispy chicken and a large handful of shredded cabbage. Place the other slice of bread on top, slice in half and devour!

Notes

Make it vegetarian: I know this is Chicken Katsu Sandwich but vegetarians can still enjoy a katsu curry sandwich! Simply swap the chicken breast for extra firm tofu - it takes on the flavours so well and is perfect when you want a vegetarian version.

Mayonnaise: you can switch up the flavours in the mayonnaise by swirling through a dollop of smoky, spicy sriracha sauce for a bit of heat or adding a pinch of curry powder for curry sauce vibes.

Tonkatsu sauce: the homemade tonkatsu sauce is delicious served as a dip for tempura battered prawns or with fried pork cutlets.

Find it online: https://desertislanddishes.co/chicken-katsu-sandwich/