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Sliced baked chicken katsu fanned over shredded cabbage with dark tonkatsu sauce and a lemon wedge on a white plate

Baked Chicken Katsu with Cabbage and Tonkatsu Sauce

Panko-crusted chicken cutlets baked on a rack at 220 C / 425 F, served over shredded cabbage with homemade tonkatsu sauce. Each serving has about 44 g of protein from chicken and eggs.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Calories: 516

Ingredients
  

Chicken katsu
  • 700 g boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4 breasts); sliced in half horizontally
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 40 g all-purpose flour (1/3 cup)
  • 2 eggs large; beaten
  • 75 g panko bread crumbs (1 1/2 cups)
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil (30 ml); for toasting the panko
  • cooking spray as needed; for the rack
Cabbage
  • 600 g green cabbage thinly shredded
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges
Tonkatsu sauce
  • 4 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 220 C / 425 F with a rack in the middle. Set a wire rack inside a 33 x 46 cm / 13 x 18 inch rimmed sheet pan and coat the rack lightly with cooking spray.
  2. Heat the 2 tbsp oil in a 26 cm / 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and stir constantly for 3 to 4 minutes, until evenly golden brown. Tip it into a shallow dish and let it cool while you prep the chicken.
  3. Slice each breast in half horizontally to make 8 cutlets. Pound them between sheets of plastic wrap to an even 1.5 cm thickness, pat dry, and season both sides with the 1 tsp salt and the pepper.
  4. Set the flour, beaten eggs and toasted panko in three shallow dishes. Dredge each cutlet in flour and shake off the excess, dip it in egg, then press it firmly into the panko on both sides. Place the cutlets on the rack with about 2 cm between them.
  5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping once at the 10-minute mark, until the crust is deep golden and a thermometer in the thickest cutlet reads 165 F / 74 C.
  6. While the cutlets bake, toss the shredded cabbage with the rice vinegar, sesame oil and 1/4 tsp salt. In a small bowl, stir together the ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce and sugar until smooth.
  7. Slice each cutlet into 2 cm strips. Divide the cabbage among four plates, fan 2 cutlets over each, and spoon over the sauce. Serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

  • Slice each breast horizontally into two cutlets before pounding, giving 8 cutlets total.
  • Leave about 2 cm between cutlets on the rack so hot air reaches every side.
  • Pull the cutlets at 165 F / 74 C, since overbaked breast turns dry fast.
  • No protein powder is used, so there is nothing to substitute or subtract.