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Finished sauce katsudon — glossy sliced pork cutlet over cabbage and rice with sesame, served with miso soup and side dishes

Sauce Katsudon (Japanese Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl)

A regional Japanese rice bowl of crispy panko pork cutlet dipped in a sweet-savory Worcestershire sauce, served over rice and shredded cabbage — no egg. The local pride of Fukui, Komagane, and Aizu.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pieces pork fillet / tenderloin (hire) leaner and more tender than loin; loin works too
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp cake flour for breading
  • 1 egg beaten, for breading
  • panko breadcrumbs as needed
  • oil for frying
  • 100 g cabbage finely shredded
  • 2 bowls cooked rice
  • 100 ml Worcestershire sauce for the sauce
  • 2 tbsp mirin for the sauce
  • 1 tbsp ketchup for the sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar for the sauce

Method
 

  1. Combine the Worcestershire sauce, mirin, ketchup, and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then transfer to a shallow dish wide enough to dip a cutlet.
  2. Finely shred the cabbage, soak briefly in cold water for crispness, and drain well.
  3. Score the edges of the pork, season with salt and pepper, then coat in flour, beaten egg, and panko in that order.
  4. Heat oil to 180°C (356°F) and fry the cutlets about 4 minutes until deep golden and crisp. Drain on a wire rack.
  5. Scoop hot rice into each bowl and top with a bed of shredded cabbage.
  6. Dip each fried cutlet into the warm sauce, turning to coat both sides.
  7. Slice the sauced cutlets into strips, lay over the cabbage, drizzle with a little extra sauce, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.