Tonkatsu Style Butterflied Pork Chops With Watercress Salad Recipes

JAPANESE TONKATSU (PORK CHOPS)

Steps:

• Whisk first four ingredients in small measure until combined; set sauce aside.
• Season pork chops (preferably 3/4" thick) with salt and pepper mixture. Dredge each chop in flour, until coated, then dip chops in eggs and then in breadcrumbs, pressing crumbs to adhere.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add pork. Cook first side 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn pork, and cook second side 3 to 4 minutes, adjusting heat, if necessary, so chops cook rapidly but coating does not burn, or until golden brown and cooked through.
• Make a mound of cabbage on each of 4 plates. Drizzle cabbage with a bit of sauce, then top with a chop. Serve with lemon wedges and remaining sauce.

TONKATSU WITH HOMEMADE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce: Stir together the ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mirin, sugar, Dijon and garlic powder in a small bowl. Set aside while you prepare the pork.
• For the pork: Put the flour in a shallow bowl. Whisk the egg with a small splash of water in a second shallow bowl. Add the panko to a deep dish.
• Lightly pound each piece of pork with a meat mallet, then generously sprinkle on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge one 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 it into the panko so the crumbs stick. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Heat about 1/3 inch oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Add 2 of the cutlets and cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip the pieces over and cook until almost cooked through but still pink, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer the cutlets to a paper towel-lined cutting board, sprinkle with salt and tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the 2 remaining cutlets.
• For serving: Slice the cutlets crosswise into 1/2-inch strips. Place a sliced cutlet on each plate along with a scoop of rice, a mound of cabbage and 2 tomato wedges and/or cucumber slices, if using. Drizzle the cutlets with the sauce and serve with extra sauce on the side.

TONKATSU

Steps:

• Pour the oil into a 3-quart (3-liter) cast-iron Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot and heat over medium heat until it reaches 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a sheet tray with paper towels.
• Trim the fat around the edges of the pork chops if desired. Pound the pork chops with a meat mallet to slightly flatten and rub with the salt and pepper.
• Coat and bread your pork chops. Line up three small shallow bowls: one with the flour, one with the beaten eggs and one with the panko. Take one pork chop and lightly flour it on both sides, patting to remove excess flour. Dip the chop into the egg and then coat it generously with panko. Repeat with the remaining chops.
• You are now ready to start frying. Test the temperature of the oil by dropping a few bread crumbs into the oil. If the crumbs sizzle up instantly but do not burn, the temperature is right for frying. Add two chops to the oil and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until they are lightly browned on one side. Flip and fry for another 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned on the second side. The timing will depend on the thickness of the meat and the temperature of the oil. Test for doneness by taking one chop out of the oil when it is lightly browned on both sides and slice it; it should not be pink inside. Be careful not to overcook the pork-you want your cutlets to be tender and juicy. Drain the chops on the paper towel-lined sheet tray to remove excess oil. Remove any crumbs from the oil with a slotted spoon and fry the remaining two chops.
• Slice the pork crosswise about 3/4 inch (2 centimeters) thick and serve over the shredded cabbage with the lemon wedges, your choice of sauce and a bowl of fresh-cooked rice on the side.
• Bring the dashi to a boil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until the liquid thickens and reduces by one-third, stirring frequently so it doesn't burn, 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and make adjustments.
• If you like the sauce sweeter, add more ketchup, sugar or some mirin. If you want the savory flavors to come out, add more soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. The sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Makes 2/3 cup (156 milliliters).

PORK TONKATSU

Steps:

• Slash the fat rimming one side of the loin cutlet to keep the meat from curling when deepfried. Pound to flatten to about 1/4 inch. Salt and pepper both sides of each cutlet. Dredge each in flour, then dip into beaten eggs and press into bread crumbs to coat both sides.
• Heat a large skillet with about 1/2 inch of oil until hot. Lay 1 or 2 cutlets in the hot oil. Deep-fry until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes, turning them once or twice. Drain the cutlets on paper towels and cut the pork into bite-size strips that can be eaten with chopsticks.
• Arrange the pork on a platter lined with the shredded cabbage, and garnish with lemon wedges. Serve the sauce on the side for dipping, or pour it over the pork and cabbage.
• Prepare the recipe for Pork Tonkatsu, using 4 turkey cutlets, each about 1/2inch thick, in place of the pork loin.

PORK TONKATSU WITH SHISO AND SAVOY

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a small glass bowl, whisk up dry mustard and granulated garlic into the Worcestershire, soy sauce and honey. Stir in the ketchup.
• For the slaw: In a medium glass bowl, whisk up dry mustard, ginger, garlic, soy, honey, vinegar and oil. Quarter, core and mandoline cabbage. Add to dressing and toss. Stack and very thinly slice shiso. Mandoline radish, add and toss with cabbage.
• For the pork: Pound out pork with bumpy side of meat mallet to 1/8-inch thick, or pound out pork with flat mallet and prick both sides of cutlets with tines of fork. Season both sides of cutlets with salt and pepper.
• Set up breading and fry station: shallow dishes of flour; beaten eggs; panko mixed with sesame seeds; large frying pan with 1/4-inch oil; wire rack in rimmed baking sheet over paper towels or parchment paper for draining.
• Bread pork in flour, shake off, dip in egg, drain excess, press in panko. Cook chops until crisp and golden, 5 minutes, turning once. Drain.
• Serve chops garnished with sesame seeds and chives, sauce spooned across chops and slaw alongside.