Tonkatsu pork
Tonkatsu pork from Japan.
Cook and rest are read from the method. Prep is estimated when the listing left it out. Optional overnight waits and leftover storage are not counted.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 1 min
- Rest
- 5 min
- Total
- 21 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- No chilli
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Tonkatsu pork is listed as pork from Japan. The steps below follow the imported method, not an editorial rewrite. Times shown were read from those steps.
What you'll need
9 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
- Pork4
- Wheat flour100 g
- Egg2
- Breadcrumbs100 g
- Neutral oilto taste
- Tomato ketchup30 ml
- Worcestershire sauce30 ml
- Oyster sauce15 ml
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Remove the large piece of fat on the edge of each pork loin, then bash each of the loins between two pieces of baking parchment until around 1cm in thickness – you can do this using a meat tenderiser or a rolling pin. Once bashed, use your hands to reshape the meat to its original shape and thickness – this step will ensure the meat is as succulent as possible.
Step 2
Put the flour, eggs and panko breadcrumbs into three separate wide-rimmed bowls. Season the meat, then dip first in the flour, followed by the eggs, then the breadcrumbs.
Step 3
In a large frying or sauté pan, add enough oil to come 2cm up the side of the pan. Heat the oil to 180C – if you don’t have a thermometer, drop a bit of panko into the oil and if it sinks a little then starts to fry, the oil is ready. Add two pork chops and cook for 1 min 30 secs on each side, then remove and leave to rest on a wire rack for 5 mins. Repeat with the remaining pork chops.
6 min
Step 4
While the pork is resting, make the sauce by whisking the ingredients together, adding a splash of water if it’s particularly thick. Slice the tonkatsu and serve drizzled with the sauce.
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 505 kcal
- Protein
- 25.5 g
- Carbs
- 71.7 g
- Fat
- 12.2 g
- Saturated fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 1.4 g
- Sugar
- 32.8 g
- Sodium
- 215 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- Wheat
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 13 November.
Substitutions
pork → mushroom
Chopped mushrooms plus a splash of soy. Different dish, same comfort.
flour (a gluten-free blend (not plain rice flour alone for bread)) → a gluten-free blend (not plain rice flour alone for bread)
Coatings and roux can swap. Yeast breads need a blend designed for gluten-free baking.
egg (silken tofu or skip (depends on the dish)) → silken tofu or skip (depends on the dish)
Carbonara without egg is not carbonara. Fried rice can skip the egg. We will not pretend otherwise.
Tips
- Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
History & culture
Inspired by the original
Provenance: Imported. Not developed or tested in our kitchen, so quantities and timings can be approximate. Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Tonkatsu pork take?
21 min all in — 15 min prep, 1 min cook, 5 min rest. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Wheat, Eggs, Fish, Shellfish. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Dairy-free, Nut-free.
8 more questionsFewer questions
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Frying pan, Rolling pin.
How much salt do I put in?
This recipe does not list salt as its own ingredient. Saltiness comes from Oyster sauce — 1 tbsp. Taste at the end rather than adding a number we did not write.
How much oyster sauce?
1 tbsp of Oyster sauce.
How much sugar?
2 of Sugar.
What can I use instead?
pork → mushroom. Chopped mushrooms plus a splash of soy. Different dish, same comfort. flour (a gluten-free blend (not plain rice flour alone for bread)) → a gluten-free blend (not plain rice flour alone for bread). Coatings and roux can swap. Yeast breads need a blend designed for gluten-free baking. egg (silken tofu or skip (depends on the dish)) → silken tofu or skip (depends on the dish). Carbonara without egg is not carbonara. Fried rice can skip the egg. We will not pretend otherwise.
Any tips from this recipe?
Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.