Crispy Chicken Katsu (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 270g or 9.5 oz)
02 -
⅛ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
03 -
½ teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
→ Breading Station
04 -
1 big egg (weighs 50g without shell)
05 -
3 tablespoons regular flour
06 -
½ tablespoon neutral oil (to mix with the egg)
07 -
1 cup panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs)
→ For Frying
08 -
Approximately 3 cups of neutral oil (aim for 1½ inches deep)
→ For Serving
09 -
Tonkatsu dipping sauce
10 -
Thinly sliced cabbage (optional)
11 -
Tomato slices (optional)
12 -
Japanese sesame salad dressing (optional)
# Instructions:
01 -
Start by slicing through the center of the chicken breast. Cut outward from the middle on both sides to create thin, flat pieces using the Kannon biraki butterfly method. Split the chicken into two sections by cutting down the middle.
02 -
Using a meat mallet (or the back of a knife), evenly pound out the chicken until it’s around ¼ to ½ inch thick. Sprinkle both sides generously with pepper and kosher salt.
03 -
Fill a medium pot with neutral oil until it’s roughly 1½ inches deep. Slowly heat over medium-low until it reaches 170ºC (340ºF).
04 -
Grab three containers. Fill one with flour, the next with the beaten egg mixed with ½ tablespoon oil, and the last with panko breadcrumbs.
05 -
First coat the chicken in flour, dip it in the egg mixture, and then cover it in panko. Press the breadcrumbs firmly so they stick well.
06 -
Add one chicken piece at a time to the hot oil and cook for 3 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Once golden, hold it upright over the pot to drain the oil before placing on a rack to cool.
07 -
Slice the cooked chicken into strips about an inch wide and enjoy with tonkatsu sauce, cabbage, and optional tomato slices.
# Notes:
01 -
Enjoy tender, crispy chicken cutlets coated in panko breadcrumbs. It's great for meal prep or a casual dinner, and the butterfly technique ensures even cooking.
02 -
For a lighter version, you could bake the chicken instead of frying.