What do Italy, Germany, and Japan have in common? They all serve a family favorite: crispy, breadcrumb-coated, fried pork cutlets. In Italy, it's called Milanese and is made with chicken, pork, or veal. Germans call it schnitzel. In Japan, it’s called katsu, which roughly translates to "cutlet." Unlike other cutlets coated with fine-textured breadcrumbs, katsu is prepared with Panko, a coarser textured crumb, resulting in maximum crispiness.
Aside from the panko coating, what also sets katsu apart from fried cutlets in other countries is the sauce. Tonkatsu refers to deep-fried pork cutlets and is where the popular sauce derives its name.
Tonkatsu sauce is super easy to make at home, especially if you can't find the popular Bull-Dog brand at your local supermarket. All you need are four basic pantry ingredients—ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Another bonus: no cooking is required to make this recipe.
Tonkatsu Japanese Fried Pork
What Does Tonkatsu Sauce Taste Like?
Often referred to as Japanese-style barbecue sauce or katsu sauce. tonkatsu sauce is savory and sweet, with a slight tang. In this recipe, ketchup adds the sugary tartness, while soy sauce and Worcestershire lend some umami power.
Adapt Tonkatsu Sauce to Your Diet
Making tonkatsu sauce at home also means you can customize it to fit your dietary needs.
- If you’re keto, then choose sugar-free ketchup.
- For a gluten-free version, be sure to buy Worcestershire sauce that’s wheat-free and use tamari instead of the soy sauce (or find a gluten-free soy sauce).
- Worcestershire sauce usually contains anchovies or fish sauce, but vegan versions are available, which means you can even make a vegan tonkatsu sauce.
How to Use Tonkatsu Sauce
While tonkatsu refers to pork cutlets, tonkatsu sauce is used on all kinds of fried fare—chicken, beef, and even tofu. It's also the perfect dipping sauce for anything you'd normally pair with ketchup or barbecue sauce.
Looking to boost your burger game? Tonkatsu sauce is the answer. Next time you're serving pulled pork, swap in this sauce for a Japanese twist on an American classic.Here are more ideas:
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Barbecue
- Kaki Fry (Japanese Fried Oysters)
- Ebi Fry (Japanese Fried Shrimp)
- Bison Burger
- Breaded Fried Tofu Sticks
- Okonomiyaki
"This recipe is so easy. I had all four ingredients in my fridge and it took minutes to mix up. It truly tastes just like the tonkatsu sauce you get at the store and the sweet-tart flavor goes so perfectly with fried tonkatsu cutlets." —Patty Lee
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A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
In a medium bowl, whisk ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and mustard until smooth.
Use sauce immediately.
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Recipe Variations
We love the ease of this 4-ingredient tonkatsu sauce recipe, but you can put your own spin on it.
- Butter adds a creamy texture and mellows the acidity a little. If you want to try this variation, add all the ingredients to a small pot and cook it over medium-low heat until the butter melts.
- Want to punch up the flavor? Add mirin, a Japanese rice wine, and a few splashes of hot sauce for a spicy tonkatsu sauce.
How to Store
Tonkatsu sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Teriyaki Sauce
- Japanese Food
- Japanese Cooking Basics
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 12 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 3g | Carbs |
| 0g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 16 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 12 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 201mg | 9% |
| Total Carbohydrate 3g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 2g | |
| Protein 0g | |
| Vitamin C 1mg | 4% |
| Calcium 6mg | 0% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 62mg | 1% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Recipe Tags:
- sauce
- tonkatsu sauce
- japanese
- family dinner
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