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Menchi katsu
Menchi katsu (メンチカツ): Japanese crumbed beef and pork patties, fried crisp for bento
JapaneseMenchi katsu, a juicy mince patty of beef and pork in a crisp panko coat, is sold hot at Tokyo butchers' shops like the famous ones in Kichijoji and packed cold in bento across Japan, with shredded cabbage and a drizzle of tonkatsu sauce. Sweet fried onion makes the inside tender. The common mistake is frying in oil that is too hot, so the crumb burns before the pork and beef in the middle are cooked. Chef's tip: chill the shaped patties for 20 minutes before crumbing so they keep their shape and stay juicy.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the patties
- 9 oz beef mince
- 9 oz pork mince
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- ⅔ oz panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1 egg
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
For the coating
- 1 ⅜ oz plain flour
- 2 eggsbeaten
- 3 ½ oz panko breadcrumbs
- 1 litre vegetable oilfor frying
To serve
- 7 oz white cabbagevery finely shredded
- 4 tbsp tonkatsu sauce
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Fry 1 onion in 1 tbsp vegetable oil over a medium heat for 6–8 minutes until soft and golden. Cool completely.
8 minStep 2: Soak ⅔ oz panko breadcrumbs in 3 tbsp milk for 5 minutes. Add 9 oz beef mince, 9 oz pork mince, the onion, 1 egg, ¾ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper and 1 pinch ground nutmeg and knead until sticky.
Step 3: Shape into 8 oval patties about 2 cm thick, slapping each between your palms to push out air. Chill for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Dust each patty in 1 ⅜ oz plain flour, dip in 2 eggs and press into 3 ½ oz panko breadcrumbs to coat well.
Step 5: Heat 1 litre vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F. Fry the patties in batches for 5–6 minutes, turning once, until deep golden and the centre reaches 160°F. Drain on a rack.
12 minStep 6: Serve with 7 oz white cabbage and 4 tbsp tonkatsu sauce. For bento, cool fully on a rack before packing and keep chilled.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 24 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 34 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does menchi katsu take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of panko breadcrumbs?
- Crushed crackers or cornflakes, same amount.
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