Dec 17
2010

Tonkatsu (Breaded Pork Cutlet) with a Pomegranate Molasses Tonkatsu Sauce

in Entertaining, Japanese, Main Course, Meat, Recipes By Region, Recipes by Type, Sauces & Condiments

POM Party Main Course -- Tonkatsu with Pomegranate Molasses Tonkatsu Sauce

Thin slices of fresh vegetables and shrimp dipped in batter and deep fried until crispy and golden.  Biting into a piece is like biting through a crispy cloud, light and heavenly with enough crunch to remind you it’s still there, but never greasy.  I never knew how ethereal tempura could be until I moved to Japan.  My first tempura tryst in Tokyo was eye opening—how did they do that? And then I was introduced to tonkatsu—thin tender pork cutlets breaded and deep fried to golden perfection.  Juicy deep-fried pork?  How can you lose?  And the Japanese seem to agree, because this once European dish is now thoroughly integrated into Japanese cuisine.  It is served with a mound of thinly shredded cabbage and lemon wedges, with a dark sauce that is mildly sweet and fruity and a bit spicy.  It is also a popular sandwich filling, or served on Japanese curry, or even as katsudon (rice bowl topped with tonkatsu, egg, and condiments).

Deep-frying breaded pork cutlets

The allure of all of this deep-fried goodness was so strong, that I knew I had to learn to do it at home, because Mr. Fuji would probably eventually refuse to continue paying for my habit.  So I overcame my fear of deep-frying.  Armed with a copy of Elizabeth Andoh’s cookbook, At Home With Japanese Cooking, I faced my fear and attempted some tempura.  I was shocked at how easy it was.  Since that first tempura attempt, I’ve occasionally made other things.  But I don’t deep-fry frequently because it can be kind of a pain.  Getting the oil to maintain its temperature can be difficult and then disposing of the used oil is headache.  Some of my reticence abated recently, with the addition of a new member to my pot and pan community.

ManPans

Enter the ManPans 12-inch Stir Fry Wok.  You might remember that one of our prizes in the Food Ninja Contest was a ManPans 10-inch Fry Pan.  ManPans had sent me their 12-inch Stir Fry Wok to try out right before we launched the Food Ninja contest, and I knew immediately that we needed one of their pans as a prize!  My wok has been getting a lot of heavy use.  I’ve made stir-fry, fried rice, and a whole plethora of things that aren’t normally made in a wok, just because I love cooking with it.

Cooking in my ManPans Wok

It is light, extremely durable, and heats quickly and evenly.  I love the handle, a special design that never gets hot, no matter how smoking hot the actual pan is.  I also love that it’s non-stick coating is durable enough to withstand the use of metal utensils in it, unlike most non-stick products.  A huge added plus is the fact that ManPans has worked hard to make their products green.  Deep-frying in the wok is a dream.  The size of the wok is perfect and the temperature of the oil is easier to maintain than other pots I have used.  (If you want to try one for yourself, head on over to Bell’alimento and Vino Luci who are both running giveaways…but hurry, the giveaways are closing soon!!!)  Now to figure out a way to make oil disposal less of a pain…

Frying pancetta in a ManPans Wok

When I was brainstorming what to make for my POM harvest party last month, my friend Jen suggested making tonkatsu.  I immediately thought of my ManPans wok and new that I was definitely adding tonkatsu to my menu.  A chance to deep-fry breaded pork cutlets in my wok?  Oh yeah!

Heating the oil

I decided to make homemade tonkatsu sauce using pomegranate molasses.  Tonkatsu sauce already has a bit of a fruity taste, and so I thought that using pomegranate molasses would be a natural addition.  In the spirit of my POM party, I also decided to make my pomegranate molasses from scratch.  This isn’t hard to do, just time consuming, as the ingredients have to be slowly simmered until they reduce into a thick syrup.

Pomegranate Molasses

If you don’t want to make your own, you can buy it at Middle Eastern markets.  The sauce turned out perfectly.  The pomegranate molasses added a rich tangy fruitiness that heightened the flavors of the other ingredients without overwhelming them. I served the tender breaded pork cutlets with thinly shredded cabbage sprinkled with fresh pomegranate arils, the pomegranate tonkatsu sauce, and a side of steamed rice.

Tonkatsu with Pomegranate Tonkatsu Sauce, Shredded Cabbage, and Pomegranate Arils

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Tonkatsu (Breaded Pork Cutlet) with a Pomegranate Molasses Tonkatsu Sauce

Makes 4 servings

Recipe Notes: The tonkatsu sauce should be prepared ahead of time.  If you’re worried about the cutlets getting cold after frying them, keep them in an oven preheated to 180 degrees Fahrenheit until you are ready to serve them.  If cooked at the proper temperature, the cutlets should not be oily.

4 boneless pork chops, each about 1-inch thick
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, for seasoning
All-purpose flour for dredging
1 beaten egg, thinned with 2 teaspoons cold water
Panko (Japanese bread crumbs), for coating
vegetable oil, for deep-frying

2 cups very finely shredded cabbage
1/2 cup fresh pomegranate arils
lemon wedges
Pomegranate Molasses Tonkatsu Sauce (recipe below)
Steamed Japanese rice

1. Place a pork chop between two layers of plastic wrap and pound it with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until it is about 1/3 inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Repeat the process with the remaining pork chops.

2. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep-fryer, stockpot, or large wok until the oil reaches 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. While the oil is heating, lightly dust the seasoned pork chops in the flour. Dip them, one at a time, in the egg wash, then coat each of them well with the panko.

4. When the oil is at temperature, fry the chops, two at a time, for about 3 minutes. Then turn them and fry them for another 3 or 4 minutes, until they are a deep golden brown and cooked through. Place them on a wire rack to drain and repeat with the remaining chops.

5. Slice the cutlets across their width into 1/2-inch strips. Serve with a mound of shredded cabbage sprinkled with pomegranate arils. Serve with pomegranate tonkatsu sauce and steamed Japanese rice.

Pomegranate Tonkatsu Sauce

Makes about 1 cup

Recipe Notes: This sauce will keep for up to 1 month in the refrigerator and is very versatile.  It’s delicious combined with barbecue sauce, or in place of barbecue sauce.  It also makes a fabulous glaze for broiled or grilled foods.  My girls even like dipping steamed veggies in it!

1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons prepared hot mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Whisk together the ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

Pomegranate Molasses

Makes about 1 1/2 cups

Recipe Notes: This molasses can be made and stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months, so it’s worth making a larger amount if you’re going to go to the work of making it at all!

6 cups 100% pomegranate juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

1. In a large saucepan, heat the pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice over medium high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the juice has come to a simmer.

2. Reduce the heat to medium-low (or just high enough to maintain a simmer). Simmer until the juice has a syrupy consistency and has reduced to approximately 1 1/4 cups, about 1 hour.

3. Allow the molasses to cool slightly, then pour into a glass jar and allow it to cool completely before covering it and storing it in the refrigerator.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Heather (Heather's Dish) December 17, 2010 at 12:24 pm

this reminds me of an incredible dish i had in toronto one time at a great german restaurant…thanks for taking me back! :)

Reply

EMK December 17, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Your pomegranate tonkatsu sauce sounds awesome!! I like tonkatsu, but my childhood favorite was ebi furai. I had a plate of great tempura at Kajitsu, a shojin restaurant in New York. This place is amazing. If you get a chance to visit New York, try this restaurant. I’m sure you’ll like it! http://www.kajitsunyc.com/

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deana@lostpastremembered December 17, 2010 at 1:57 pm

I am with you… I never knew fried food could be ethereal till I went to Japan and had a tempura that was a fried cloud… oh my!!! I too got Elizabeth Ando’s book and tried but was never able to capture that perfection :( That said… your pork is splendid… how could I have forgotten how good it is and the pomegranate molasses is a genius addition… you go, fuji mama! What a great break it will be from holiday fare!

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Alayna @ Thyme Bombe December 17, 2010 at 2:57 pm

Love tonkatsu! What a fantastic idea to use pomegranate molasses, I’ve tried to make tonkatsu sauce a few times and it was always missing something. I’ve had tempura in Japan too and it was amazing! They had lots of different flavored salts to dip it in as well as grated daikon and a vinegar sauce. I think I love tempura sweet potato the best. :)

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paula bellalimento December 17, 2010 at 3:41 pm

You are such a rawkstar…what an incredible recipe and an incredible pan

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shannie b December 17, 2010 at 4:43 pm

gorgeous! I love tonkatsu and make it often enough that my toddler gets excited when she sees the panko come out. LOL

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April Perry December 18, 2010 at 4:01 pm

Rachael, I’m SO excited about your blog. I just subscribed to your feed, and I’m looking forward to learning to cook :)

Love,
April

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Joy December 19, 2010 at 5:26 pm

Yum. I love that sauce recipe.

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Bianca @ South Bay Rants n Raves December 20, 2010 at 3:05 pm

Yet another use for pomegranate! Thank you for this. I’m saving the recipe to try later.

Reply

Sarah June 10, 2012 at 4:58 pm

So I was super excited to try this tonight. I started with the Pomegranate Molasses recipe and it ended in total disaster. A completely blackened and ruined pan and no pomegranate molasses. I don’t know what I did wrong.

Sarah

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