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Pork Tonkatsu With Shiso

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Photo by Aya Brackett.

This genius method encases several thin slices of pork in an especially crunchy coating. The meat stays super juicy during the quick frying time.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 Servings

Ingredients

Tonkatsu sauce:

1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Pork:

1 pound boneless pork loin with 1/4"-thick fat cap
2 large eggs, beaten to blend
3 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
8 fresh shiso leaves (optional)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preparation

  1. Tonkatsu Sauce:

    Step 1

    Mix ketchup and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.

  2. Do Ahead

    Step 2

    Sauce can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.

  3. Pork:

    Step 3

    Freeze pork loin until firm around edges, about 1 hour. Slice pork 1/8" thick (or as thinly as you can). Place slices between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound until as thin as possible without tearing meat.

    Step 4

    Place eggs, panko, and flour in separate shallow bowls. Divide pork into 4 portions (you should have at least 4 slices per portion but may have more depending on how thinly you slice the meat). Working with 1 portion, season pork slices lightly on both sides with salt and stack, placing 2 shiso leaves, if desired, between any 2 slices. Keeping stack intact, dredge in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in eggs, letting excess drip off, then coat in panko, shaking off excess. Set on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and repeat with remaining shiso leaves and stacks of pork.

    Step 5

    Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook 2 stacks of pork until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer back to wire rack. Wipe out skillet and repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 2 stacks of pork. Serve pork with tonkatsu sauce.

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