Japan is renowned for its delicious cuisine, and two of the most popular dishes are tonkatsu and katsudon.
Both dishes feature a deep-fried pork cutlet, but there are some subtle differences between them.
What to Expect? This blog post will explore the difference between these two national dishes. We’ll also give you a recipe for each of them so you can try making them at home!
Table of Contents
What Is Tonkatsu?
Tonkatsu is a worldwide known Japanese dish of deep-fried pork cutlet. Also, it is coated in Panko crumbs.
Expect to see the pork usually served with shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce. And, of course, rice.
Tonkatsu sauce is similar to Worcestershire sauce and has a sweet and tangy flavor.
What Is Katsudon?
Katsudon is a Japanese dish that features a breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet served over a bowl of rice.
The rice is then topped with an egg that has been cooked in broth until it forms a soft custard.
The dish is then garnished with pickled radishes, green onions, and nori (dried seaweed).
Did You Spot the Difference?
The difference between tonkatsu and katsudon isn’t the meat, but it is how it is served.
The bowl of rice that katsudon is served over makes all the difference.
This one small change gives katsudon a more hearty and filling flavor.
It also makes it a bit more of a meal than tonkatsu, which is typically served as an appetizer or main course.
How to Make Tonkatsu: Step-by-Step Recipe
So you’re ready to try these amazing dishes?
You probably have quite a few of these ingredients in your cupboard already.
Ingredients:
- Oil for frying
- Salt and pepper
- 1 (8 ounce) pork tenderloin
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 3 cups shredded cabbage
- 1/4 cup tonkatsu sauce
Preparation:
- If you have a thick tenderloin, cut it in half to make it thinner. Season the pork with salt and pepper.
- Place the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs into their own bowls. Take a piece of pork and dip it into the flour mixture, then the eggs, and then coat with bread crumbs and repeat with the remaining pork.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry the pork until it is golden brown on all sides and cooked through. Remove from the heat and let the tonkatsu rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain. Drizzle tonkatsu sauce over the pork and serve with cabbage or any other sides.
Tonkatsu Sauce Recipe
Can’t find tonkatsu sauce at the grocery store? Not to worry!
It’s extremely easy to make; all you have to do is combine these ingredients:
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon mirin
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
How to Make Katsudon: Step-by-Step Recipe
When making katsudon, you’ll notice that preparing the pork is the exact same as it was for tonkatsu.
The difference comes in when you start to assemble the dish.
Ingredients:
- Oil for frying
- Salt and pepper
- 1 (8 ounce) pork tenderloin
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 3 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup katsu sauce
- 1/4 cup dashi or chicken broth
- Pickled radishes, green onions, and nori for garnish
Preparation:
- If you have a thick piece of pork tenderloin, cut it in into two thinner pieces. This will help the meat cook more evenly.
- Prepare three separate bowls; one with flour, one with the eggs (don’t forget to whisk them), and one with the panko bread crumbs. First, coat the pork in flour. Then, dip it into eggs. Finally, coat it with bread crumbs.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry the pork until it is golden brown on all sides and cooked through. Remove the katsudon pork from the heat and let rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs. Add a tablespoon of oil to a pan on medium heat and add the cabbage and dashi or chicken broth. Bring to a slow boil. Once the broth is boiling, add the katsudon and pour the whisked eggs on top. Cook until the egg has set.
- Serve this mixture over bowls of steamed rice. Garnish with pickled radishes, green onion, and nori as desired.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a quick meal or something to impress your dinner guests, look no further than tonkatsu or katsudon!
These two Japanese dishes may look similar at first glance, but they actually have some distinct differences.
Tonkatsu is typically served with shredded cabbage, rice, and tonkatsu sauce while katsudon is served over a bowl of rice with an egg that was cooked on top of a broth.
So now that you know the difference between these two delicious dishes, which one will you try making at home?
Bon appetit!
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