August 27, 2010

Katsudon

My friend, the same one who we celebrated High Tea with, introduced me to Katsudon. It’s a simple Japanese dish that I fell in love with immediately. In fact, I fell so hard for it, that I figured out how to make it myself. I could have just looked at a book I realize, but then there wouldn't have been all those nights of gobbling down those tasty failures! Katsudon (Kaht-soo-don) is a bowl of rice, with sautéed onions, a pork cutlet, and an egg on top. It's simple and so damn good.

This is definitely one of my staple mid-week dinners. It's easy, filling, and of course yummy. It's also a great excuse to make a pot of homemade Miso Soup. That being said, last night we had powdered Miso Soup - like I've said before, we can't all be Martha Stewart all the time.

This is for two people.

Katsudon
Rice (I use a long grain brown rice. Not only is it healthier, we actually prefer the taste)
2 large pork cutlets or 4 smaller/thinner cutlets
1 1/2 cups Panko (I use whole wheat Panko crumbs but they can be hard to find)
1/2 cup flour (can be whole wheat flour too of course)
3 eggs
1/4 cup water
1/2 large onion, sliced (about 1/4". Not too thin, not too thick)
3/4 cup Dashi stock (this is a Japanese powdered stock base. If you don't have/can't find it, just do what I did last night and use vegetable stock instead)
1 Tbs Mirin (a Japanese sweet cooking wine. If you don't have/can't find, replace with Marsala cooking wine or even a dry Sherry)
1 Tbs soy sauce 
1 Tsp sugar
Vegetable oil (for frying. If you want you can also bread the cutlets, bake them at about 400 until they're crispy and cooked through)
Salt & Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese seven spice. Easily substituted with ground pepper)

-While rice is cooking, season breadcrumbs with salt and Shichimi Togarashi to taste. Crack one egg and whisk it, adding water. Dust cutlets with flour, then dip in egg, then coat in Panko.
-Heat oil in pan and fry the cutlets, set aside.
-In a pot, add stock, Mirin, soy, sugar, and onions. Cook together until the onions are tender, about 3-5 minutes.
-Slice the cutlets into half inch slices and add them to the pot (keep the slices together though as if still one cutlet), and cooking in the onions and broth for a minute or two. Whisk the last two eggs very lightly; you just want them barely broken up. Pour half over one cutlet, half over the other in the pot. Cover and cook for about one minute or until the egg has just cooked and set.
-Fill two bowls with rice, and using a spatula, place one cutlet with eggs and onions on top. Repeat with other rice bowl. Sprinkle a little fresh chopped parsley, chive or scallion over it and serve. If there is any extra broth, pour over the rice bowl. I usually sprinkle more of the Shichimi Togarashi on top too - I like things a little spicy. 



1 comment:

  1. No wonder you love this dish, Duchess! I've never had it but it sounds so simple and wholesome and comforting. :-) Love that you use whole grain everything. Me too! :-)

    ReplyDelete