How to Make Crispy Katsu Chicken: A Step-by-Step Guide

Do you know how to make a delicious katsu chicken dish? It might seem difficult, but with the right ingredients and technique, you can easily make it at home. Katsu chicken is a Japanese dish made with crispy breaded chicken, typically served with rice and a tangy sauce. In this article, we will show you how to make katsu chicken that will impress your friends and family.

To start off, you’ll need boneless chicken breasts, flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs. You can also add seasonings such as salt and pepper to taste. After preparing your ingredients, you’ll want to pound the chicken breasts thinly. Then, coat the chicken first with flour, then dip it into the egg mixture, and finally coat it with panko breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken to ensure maximum crispy texture. After you’ve breaded all the chicken, fry them in hot oil in a pan until both sides are golden brown. Serve with rice and your preferred sauce, and voila! You now have a delicious katsu chicken dish!

Section: How to Make Katsu Chicken

Katsu chicken is a Japanese dish that is increasingly becoming popular across the world. It involves lightly breaded and fried chicken cutlets, which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Katsu chicken is often served with a sweet and savory sauce known as tonkatsu sauce. It is perfect for lunch or dinner and can be served with rice or salad.

In this section, we will show you how to make katsu chicken in ten easy steps.

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Start by preparing the chicken. You will need four boneless chicken breasts or thighs. Take a chicken breast, place it between two pieces of parchment paper, and pound it using a mallet or a rolling pin until it is about half an inch thick. Repeat this with the rest of the chicken breasts. If using chicken thighs, remove the bone and pound flat.

Step 2: Season the Chicken

Season the pounded chicken with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add some garlic powder or paprika for extra flavor.

Step 3: Dredge the Chicken in Flour

To create a crispy coating for the chicken, dredge each piece in flour. Make sure the chicken is coated evenly on both sides.

Step 4: Dip the Chicken in Egg

Next, dip the chicken in a beaten egg. Make sure it is well coated on both sides.

Step 5: Coat the Chicken with Panko Breadcrumbs

Coat the chicken with panko breadcrumbs, making sure they stick to the chicken. Place the coated chicken on a wire rack and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the coating to set.

Step 6: Heat the Oil

Heat about an inch of vegetable oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F.

Step 7: Fry the Chicken

Once the oil is hot, carefully place the chicken in the pan and fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.

Step 8: Drain the Chicken

Remove the fried chicken from the pan and let it drain on a wire rack or on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Step 9: Slice the Chicken

Once the chicken has cooled, slice it into thick pieces. This will make it easier to dip into the tonkatsu sauce.

Step 10: Serve with Tonkatsu Sauce

Serve the katsu chicken with tonkatsu sauce on the side. You can also serve it with rice or salad.

In conclusion, making katsu chicken is easy and straightforward. Follow the above steps and you will be able to prepare a delicious and crispy katsu chicken dish that everyone will love.

Preparing the Chicken

Now that we have all of the ingredients we need, it’s time to start preparing the chicken. This section will cover all the necessary steps to prepare your chicken for the delicious katsu breading.

1. Butterfly the chicken breasts

The first step in preparing chicken for katsu is to butterfly the chicken breasts. This means slicing the chicken in half along its length without completely cutting it. If you’re unsure about how to butterfly a chicken breast, there are countless YouTube tutorials out there to help you get the technique down pat. The main goal is to get a thin, even piece of chicken.

2. Tenderize the chicken

Next, you’ll want to tenderize the chicken to ensure it’s evenly cooked. Lay the sliced chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to gently pound the chicken. You don’t need to go all out on the chicken and flatten it completely – aim to create an even thickness throughout the chicken.

3. Season the chicken

Once the chicken is tenderized, it’s time to season it. Combine salt, pepper and garlic powder in a small bowl and sprinkle it generously over the chicken breasts. For added flavor, you can also use a marinade.

4. Prepare the egg and flour mixture

To create the perfect breading for your katsu chicken, you’ll need an egg and flour mixture. In a shallow dish, whisk together one egg and a few tablespoons of flour until it forms a thick paste. Add a splash of milk to make it a bit runnier if you prefer.

5. Dredge the chicken in the egg and flour mixture

Now it’s time to dredge the chicken in the egg and flour mixture you’ve prepared. Coat the chicken evenly, making sure it’s completely covered.

6. Prepare the panko breadcrumb mixture

Panko breadcrumbs are a key ingredient in katsu chicken. You’ll need to crush them up into smaller pieces and season them with salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of spice.

7. Coat the chicken in the panko mixture

Coating the chicken in the panko mixture is the final step before frying. Press the chicken into the panko crumbs, turning it over to ensure it’s evenly covered.

8. Allow the chicken to rest

Before frying, it’s essential to allow the chicken to rest for around 5-10 minutes. This ensures the breading sticks to the chicken and doesn’t fall off during the frying process.

9. Fry the chicken

The time has finally come to fry the chicken! Heat a generous amount of oil in a deep pan or fryer and allow it to reach a temperature of around 350°F. Slowly lower the chicken into the oil, cooking for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.

10. Drain excess oil and serve hot

After frying, remove the chicken from the oil and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Let it cool for a couple of minutes before serving with a side of tonkatsu sauce. Enjoy your delicious homemade katsu chicken!

Ingredients for Katsu Chicken

Making a perfect Katsu Chicken requires the best ingredients to ensure that this dish comes out finger-licking good. Here are some of the ingredients you will need and some tips about what to look for:

Chicken breasts

Start with fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Look for ones that are not too thick or too thin. Thinly sliced chicken breasts will cook faster and become overcooked or dry, whereas thick chicken breasts will take too long to cook and may stay undercooked in the middle.

Eggs

Eggs are important as they will bind the breadcrumbs and flour to the chicken. Fresh eggs are preferred over old ones to ensure that the coating sticks well. One should be sufficient for 2 chicken breasts.

Panko breadcrumbs

Panko breadcrumbs are Japanese-style breadcrumbs that are lighter, coarser and more airy than regular breadcrumbs. This special breadcrumbs help retain the crispiness on the outside while remaining moist and tender inside.

Flour

All-purpose flour is the best for Katsu Chicken. It helps to create a perfect coating on chicken pieces while frying, which gives it a beautiful golden appearance.

Oil

Choose an oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil or canola oil, to fry Katsu Chicken. It should be hot enough so that the chicken will fry perfectly.

How to prepare Katsu Chicken

Preparing Katsu Chicken is easy. Here are the steps you should follow:

1. First, take your chicken breasts and cut them into thin cutlets. Pound the chicken breasts with a meat mallet to make sure they are even in thickness.

2. Crack and whisk the eggs in a separate bowl, and then prepare flour and panko breadcrumbs in separate dishes. Put them in a row for easy dipping.

3. Season the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper. Coat each piece of chicken first in the flour, shaking off any excess flour. Dip into the beaten eggs, then transfer it to the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to make sure it clings to the chicken.

4. Heat the oil in a frying pan until it reaches the right temperature. One way to check if the oil is hot enough is to insert a wooden chopstick into the oil. If bubbles form around the chopstick, the oil is hot enough. Carefully place each chicken cutlet in the hot oil and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.

5. Remove the chicken cutlets from the oil and lay them on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and serve with a bowl of white rice, Tonkatsu sauce, and finely shredded cabbage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Katsu Chicken is a delicious dish that is easy to prepare, and its crispy coating with a tender and juicy interior makes it loved by all, young or old. With this simple recipe on hand, anyone can try their hand at this classic Japanese dish that is a sure hit at every party, gathering, or dinner table. By following this step-by-step guide to create Katsu chicken, this dish will become a favorite, and you’ll be saying “oishi” (delicious) after every bite. Enjoy!

Time to get cooking!

Now that you know how to craft a plate of delicious katsu chicken, it’s time to get cooking! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different sauces or spices to create a unique dish just for you. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to come back for more recipes and tips to make your meals truly tasty. Happy cooking!