With crispy panko breading on the surface and scrumptious Black Forest ham on the within, Ham Katsu is the best cutlet you may make with easy-to-get components. Impressed by the Japanese drama Midnight Diner.
Have you ever tasted an incredible dish that’s made out of a brilliant easy ingredient, like slices of ham discovered within the nook of your fridge? Enter Ham Katsu (ハムカツ).
What’s Ham Katsu?
It’s a deep-fried cutlet made with slices of ham which might be coated with flour, egg, and Japanese panko, and deep-fried until golden colour. It’s such a humble dish, but tright here’s one thing downright passable about biting via the crisp layer of golden-brown breading and salty-savory ham.
If you’re a fan of Tonkatsu and Hen Katsu, it’s a must to give this Ham Katsu a attempt. Whether or not you serve it as a essential meal or as an appetizer with a glass of chilly beer, I do know that this can be your subsequent favourite dish.
This Ham Katsu recipe is featured on the favored Japanese TV drama referred to as “Shinya Shokudo (深夜食堂)” or “Midnight Diner: Tokyo Tales” on Netflix.
After I noticed the grasp made Ham Katsu with simply slices of ham, I knew I needed to head over to the kitchen and make it. My mom makes Ham Katsu, however her model, the one I grew up consuming, is extra difficult and time-consuming. Hers got here with Japanese Potato Salad between slices of ham. It’s actually scrumptious, nevertheless it requires extra time and effort since it’s essential put together the potato salad first (except you may have leftovers).
Midnight Diner’s Ham Katsu is far easier and simpler to make than my mom’s, but my household LOOOOOVED it. Since then I’ve been shopping for hams for this dish, after which I take advantage of the leftovers to make ham and eggs or Japanese Potato Salad.
I really like that I can whip up a dinner in lower than half-hour. My youngsters love this dish of their lunch field too, and so they love Onigiriazu with Ham Katsu.
3 Tricks to Make Scrumptious Ham Katsu
1. Use thinly sliced hams
I’ve tried each thick and skinny slices of ham. I assumed Mr. JOC would love a thick slice minimize of ham for this dish, however surprisingly, stacking up two skinny slices (every slice is about 2 mm or 0.08 inch) of ham works significantly better to realize the general crispiness. And it’s extra economical too.
2. Fluff up panko
I’ve used this trick in my Tonkatsu recipe with wonderful outcomes. By spraying panko with water, it revives the panko and creates this fluffy texture. Sure, it’s an extra step with an extra instrument, however if you happen to’re specific in regards to the crispiness of panko, I do know you’d be proud of this further step. 😉
3. Should deep fry (shallow fry is okay!)
I do know a few of you’re questioning if you may make this dish like my Baked Tonkatsu, Baked Chicken Katsu, or Baked Korokke. Belief me, I did attempt. However the result’s not so good as the deep-fried model.
The excellent news is you’ll be able to “shallow” fry the kastu with one inch of oil in your frying pan as a substitute of deep-frying. You additionally don’t want to fret if the ham is cooked via or not because it is able to eat. The frying permits the panko to cook dinner via till crunchy and golden.
Serve these further crispy ham katsu with a nest of shredded uncooked cabbage, a aspect of salad, Japanese mustard, and a candy fruity Tonkatsu sauce. Steamed rice is non-compulsory. I hope this can be your subsequent favourite weeknight dish!
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Ham Katsu
With crispy panko breading on the surface and scrumptious Black Forest ham on the within, Ham Katsu is the best cutlet you may make with easy-to-get components. Impressed by the Japanese drama Midnight Diner.
Substances
Forestall your display from going darkish
Directions
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Collect all of the components.
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With the 8 slices ham, stack 2 slices of ham for every cutlet. Season with freshly floor black pepper.
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Non-obligatory: To extend the fluffy and crispy texture of the panko, spray some water on 1½ cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) and fluff it up together with your fingers.
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Dip the stacked ham into ¼ cup all-purpose flour (plain flour), then shake off the surplus. Subsequent, run the ham via 1 massive egg (50 g every w/o shell) (crushed) to coat it on either side.
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Lastly, lay the ham within the panko. Flip it over and gently press it into the breading to coat. Once you deep-fry, the panko will develop into fluffy once more so don’t fear about urgent it.
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Add impartial oil to a heavy-bottom pot and warmth the oil to 340ºF (170ºC). You’ll a minimum of want 1 inch of oil. You’ll be able to verify the temperature by inserting wood chopsticks. When small bubbles seem across the ideas of the chopsticks, the oil is prepared. Or, throw a chunk of panko into the oil. If the panko instantly comes proper again to the floor, the oil is prepared. Learn extra about How To Deep-Fry Food.
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Gently drop the panko-coated ham within the oil and deep-fry for 1 minute on the underside aspect. Attempt to preserve the oil temperature by adjusting the warmth. Should you’re new to deep frying, a deep-fry thermometer is useful.
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As soon as the underside aspect is a pleasant golden brown, flip and cook dinner for about 45 seconds on the opposite aspect. Take away the cutlet from the oil and let the surplus oil drip off.
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Then, switch the cutlet to a wire rack or plate lined with a paper towel. Earlier than you begin the subsequent batch, at all times choose up the crumbs within the oil (they may darken the oil if you happen to depart them).
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As soon as they’re cool sufficient to deal with, slice the cutlets in half and serve instantly. Serve with tonkatsu sauce on the aspect. I prefer to garnish with parsley and put a small quantity of Japanese karashi scorching mustard on the plate. Similar to the drama Midnight Diner: Tokyo Tales, I served Ham Katsu with shredded cabbage, tomato wedges, and Japanese potato salad.
Diet
Diet Details
Ham Katsu
Quantity per Serving
% Day by day Worth*
* P.c Day by day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie weight loss program.