Our crisp, juicy, well-browned pork tonkatsu starts with 3/4-inch-thick boneless chops with a thin fat cap. We cut slits in the fat to prevent the chops from buckling and then sprinkled them with salt. We revamped the bound breading process so that a triple dip—first in flour, then in egg, and finally in panko—coated the chops with the least possible mess and fuss.
Tonkatsu (Japanese Fried Pork Chops)
Serves 4- 2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 4 (6-ounce) boneless pork chops, 3/4-inch thick
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil for frying
- 4 cups cooked Japanese short-grain rice
- Lemon wedges
- Soy sauce
- Prepared wasabi paste or Japanese mustard
Place flour in a medium bowl. Beat eggs in a second medium bowl until no streaks remain. Spread panko in an even layer over half of a 13-by 9-inch baking dish. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Invert a loaf pan onto the center of the rack.
Place pork chops on a cutting board. Working with one chop at a time, and starting at one end of the chop, insert a paring knife at 45-degree angle through the fat cap to create a 1/4-inch slit, pushing the knife through until you reach the cutting board (do not cut from edge to edge). Repeat around perimeter of fat cap, spacing slits 3/4 inch apart
Sprinkle chops all over with salt. Dredge chops thoroughly in flour, shaking off excess and returning to the cutting board. Use your hand to dip one chop in egg and allow excess to drip back into the bowl to ensure a very thin coating. Place chop on top of panko and, using your other hand, cover pork with crumbs, pressing firmly so crumbs stick to all sides. Return to the cutting board. Repeat with remaining chops, tilting dish to rearrange panko on one side before coating.
Heat oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat to 340 degrees F (to take temperature, tilt skillet slightly so oil collects on one side). Place chops in skillet and cook, using tongs to lift one edge of each chop occasionally to allow steam to escape, until deep golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chops to prepared rack, leaning them against loaf pan. Let rest for 5 minutes.