The Best Yumblink Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
Chicken Katsu don is a comforting Japanese dish that is both crispy and savory with a deliciously rich sauce. The beauty of this recipe lies in the fact that you don’t need to deep fry anything yourself! I use frozen fried chicken from Aldi, and trust me, it tastes just as amazing without the hassle. The crispy chicken soaks up the flavorful sauce, making each bite a perfect balance of crispy, juicy, and savory. If you’re looking for a simple yet indulgent meal, this dish will be your new favorite.
Method
Prepare the Egg
Start by cracking an egg into a bowl and lightly beating it with a fork or whisk. The goal is to break the yolk and mix it with the whites just enough to combine them. Set this bowl aside, as you’ll be using the egg later to complete the dish.
Make the Sauce
In a medium-sized pan, begin by adding the sliced onions. Then, pour in the water, dashi powder, soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sake. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once it begins to bubble, reduce the heat and let it simmer for a few minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld together and form a savory base for the dish. The onions will soften and add depth to the sauce.
Heat the Chicken
Next, add your cooked fried chicken to the pan with the simmering sauce. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken to ensure it gets evenly coated and starts absorbing some of the flavors. Allow the chicken to simmer for about 1-2 minutes until it is heated through. This step is essential to infuse the crispy chicken with the rich sauce, while keeping the chicken warm without making it soggy.
Add the Egg
Once the chicken is heated, take your beaten egg and evenly pour it over the chicken in the pan. Quickly cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for about 1 minute. You want the egg to set slightly but remain soft and a bit runny in some places. This will allow the egg to mix seamlessly with the sauce, giving the dish a creamy texture when you serve it over rice.
Serve the Dish
Once the egg has set, carefully slide the chicken and sauce from the pan over a bowl of freshly cooked rice. Make sure the rice is hot and fluffy to soak up all the delicious sauce without becoming too soggy. You can arrange the chicken neatly on top of the rice, ensuring that each piece is covered with the flavorful sauce.
Garnish
For the final touch, sprinkle sliced spring onions and a pinch of shichimi togarashi over the top of the dish. The spring onions add a fresh, crisp contrast to the savory chicken, while the shichimi togarashi (a Japanese spice blend) provides a little kick of heat, rounding out the dish perfectly.
Necessary Tools
- Bowl (for beating the egg)
- Pan (for simmering the sauce and chicken)
- Spoon (for pouring sauce)
- Rice bowl (to serve)
- Knife (for slicing the onions)
Chicken “Katsu”Don
Cuisine: JapaneseDifficulty: EasyServings
1
servingsPrep time
5
minutesCooking time
10
minutesTotal time
15
minutesIngredients
1 Chicken Katsu (or KFC chicken tenders, fried chicken, etc.)
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp dashi powder
1/4 onion, sliced
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp mirin
1/2 tbsp sake
1 egg
1/2 onion (for extra flavor)
Directions
- Prepare the egg In a bowl, lightly beat the egg and set it aside.
- Make the sauce In a pan, add the sliced onions and all the sauce ingredients (water, dashi powder, soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sake). Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes to combine the flavors.
- Heat the chicken Add your cooked fried chicken to the pan, then spoon some sauce over it. Let it simmer for about 1-2 minutes until the chicken is warmed through.
- Add the egg Evenly pour the beaten egg over the chicken and cover the pan. Let it cook for 1 minute or until the egg is slightly set, but still soft.
- Serve Gently slide the chicken and sauce over a bowl of hot rice, making sure it’s all evenly distributed.
- Garnish Sprinkle sliced spring onions and a pinch of shichimi togarashi over the top for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
- Egg setting Make sure you don’t cook the egg too long. It should remain soft and slightly runny, so it mixes well with the sauce when you pour it over the rice.
- Avoid soggy chicken The crispy outer layer of the fried chicken is what makes this dish special, so don’t overcook it once you add the chicken to the sauce. Just heat it through, and let the sauce do its magic without making it too soggy.
- Rice texture Make sure your rice is hot and fluffy when serving. It helps absorb the sauce without becoming too soggy.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a side of steamed vegetables or a small salad to balance the richness of the dish.
- Pair it with some miso soup for an authentic Japanese meal experience.
- You can also drizzle a little extra soy sauce or sriracha on top if you like it spicy.
Fun Fact
Did you know? “Katsu” is actually short for “katsuretsu,” which means “cutlet” in Japanese. Traditionally, it’s made with pork, but using chicken (or even leftover fried chicken) is just as tasty!
Conclusion
Chicken Katsu don is a simple yet satisfying meal that can be made with minimal effort but still packs a punch of flavor. Whether you’re using frozen fried chicken or leftovers, this dish proves that you can still make something amazing without all the frying. So next time you’re craving a delicious, hearty meal, give this recipe a try – you won’t be disappointed!
