Tempeh Katsu Sandwich | Pickled Plum

May 23, 2024

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My vegetarian katsu sandwich is savory, candy and so umami. Panko breaded tempeh cutlets – nestled between slices of sentimental bread and topped with crisp cabbage and Japanese mayo – ship the mightiest crunch. Does it style like a standard Japanese pork katsu sando? Sure. Is it straightforward to make at residence? Additionally sure.

After I got down to make a vegetarian katsu sandwich, I had a dilemma. I knew I needed to discover a plant based mostly protein that would mimic the hearty meatiness of the normal crunchy fried pork cutlet or Japanese panko breaded hen cutlet that typify a correct katsu sando. Tempeh (a cake manufactured from pressed fermented soybeans) has the proper meaty chew, and breading it with panko makes it downright crispy. Plus, I feel all the things tastes like a house run once you put cabbage, Japanese mayo and tonkatsu sauce on prime.

Why I Love This Katsu Sando

This can be a vegetarian model of the porky Japanese authentic – but it surely isn’t a compromise. I’m all about intense flavors.
Tempeh is meaty. The fried cutlets have the hearty crunch I anticipate from a katsu sando. I discover the feel fiercely satisfying.
Tonkatsu sauce and Kewpie mayo (two of my favourite condiments) ship full-on genuine Japanese flavors.

Katsu Sandwich Substances

Scroll to the underside of this web page for the total recipe and measurements.

Soy Sauce, Sake and Mirin: I mix these three substances as a fast marinade for the tempeh. Consider this famend combo because the Japanese triumvirate of taste.
Tempeh: Tempeh is bought in pretty uniform measurement blocks. I slice my tempeh into 6 equal sections. For those who want, you can even make tofu katsu cutlets.
Flour and Water: Combine 3 tablespoons of flour with 1/4 cup water. That is my batter for the tempeh. And it additionally creates a base the panko breadcrumbs can persist with.
Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are bigger than typical positive breadcrumbs. I consider panko extra as flaked bread. After I fry with panko, the coating is gentle and ethereal with a considerable crunch. Out there at most grocery shops nowadays – or choose up panko on-line.
Oil: Use a impartial cooking oil like vegetable or grapeseed oil.
Shredded Cabbage: Right here’s a secret: I simply choose up a bag of cabbage coleslaw combine on the grocery retailer (similar trick I take advantage of when making Japanese coleslaw). Straightforward!
Sandwich Bread: Use what you’ve bought helpful or like greatest. If in case you have a Japanese bakery close by, choose up a sliced loaf of shokupan (belief me).
Japanese Mayo: I take advantage of Kewpie mayo. It’s eggy, umami, brilliant and nearly fruity. Vegans can completely use vegan mayo as an alternative.
Tonkatsu Sauce: That is the enduring candy, savory and tangy brown sauce bought most iconically underneath the Bull-Canine model. Seize some – or make your personal at residence.

Do-it-yourself Sandwich Ingredient Choices

Belief me after I let you know that there’s no have to reinvent the wheel right here! You possibly can simply choose up these substances in an Asian market or on-line. Nonetheless, when you’re a DIYer like me, and need to actually dive in to creating as a lot from scratch as attainable…

I’ve bought step-by-step recipes for many of the components on this katsu sandwich under.

The way to Make a Japanese Tempeh Katsu Sandwich

Marinate the tempeh. Combine the soy sauce, sake and mirin marinade in a small bowl and put aside. Then slice your tempeh block into 6 equal parts and place the slices inside a meals storage bag. Pour the marinade in, seal the bag and marinate for 10 minutes on all sides (20 minutes complete). Flip the bag as soon as.
Batter the tempeh. Combine the flour and water in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, pour in your panko breadcrumbs and set the 2 bowls subsequent to one another. Dip every tempeh stick within the flour combination and coat evenly on all sides. Then, dip them within the panko breadcrumbs to coat all sides.
Pan-fry the tempeh cutlets. In a big skillet over medium excessive warmth, add the cooking oil. As soon as the oil is sizzling, add the breaded tempeh and cook dinner on all sides till golden brown. As soon as cooked, switch the tempeh to a a plated coated in paper towels to take away the surplus oil.
Lastly, assemble the sandwiches. Load on the fried tempeh, shredded cabbage – and a very good quantity of Japanese mayo and tonkatsu sauce. Don’t be shy! Serve instantly.

Knowledgeable Tip Don’t get hung up when you don’t have the ‘proper’ bread readily available (I by no means fear about that). As a substitute of Japanese shokupan, you should use something from Wonderbread to a baguette – and all stops in between. I personally want sourdough.

Regularly Requested Questions

Is that this recipe vegan?

Not fairly. However it may be! Since mayonnaise accommodates egg, vegans will need to use a plant based mostly mayo as an alternative. Additionally, when you’re utilizing panko breadcrumbs, make sure to learn the label first. Some manufacturers use dairy of their panko. Bull-Canine model tonkatsu sauce is definitely completely vegan. However you can even use vegan BBQ sauce if that’s what you could have helpful.

The place can I purchase the substances?

Tempeh is bought at most grocery shops nowadays. And, whereas shokupan (Japanese milk bread) is usually recommended, I like making this on primary sourdough sandwich bread from my native bakery. As for the Japanese particular substances, you’ll in all probability observe all the things else down pretty simply at an Asian grocery retailer. If there’s not a retailer in your space, listed here are a pair useful hyperlinks to purchase on Amazon: tonkatsu sauce, Kewpie mayonnaise, panko breadcrumbs, sake and mirin.

Can I make this sandwich with meat as an alternative?

You most definitely can. A Japanese katsu sando is often made with a breaded pork or hen cutlet. This baked hen katsu recipe would work completely!

Storage

This tempeh katsu sandwich tastes greatest sizzling and crispy, proper out of the pan, and freshly assembled.

That mentioned, you possibly can retailer fried tempeh cutlets for as much as 3 days within the fridge.

Be sure you retailer the leftover cutlets coated – and utterly separate from the remainder of your sandwich fixings.
To reheat, place in a pan with a bit oil over medium warmth and fry till crispy.
Microwaving the cutlets shouldn’t be advisable, as it’ll render them soggy. Higher to eat them chilly (assume chilly fried hen) than to microwave them.

Freezing leftover fried tempeh cutlets shouldn’t be advisable.

What to Serve With a Tempeh Katsu Sandwich

One among my favourite issues about lunch in Japan is the teishoku – or meal set. Teishoku often come as a essential dish, surrounded by a number of small sides and a drink. Consider it as a worth meal. After I whip up a Japanese meal set round this tempeh katsu sando at residence, right here’s what I serve on the aspect:

Tableware

The hibino kirin mino plate is from Musubi Kiln. Musubi Kiln is a web based retailer specializing in prime quality handmade Japanese tableware and dinnerware. Every product is made by Japanese craftsmen utilizing conventional strategies which have been handed down from technology to technology. Obtain 10% off your buy when utilizing the code CAROLINE at checkout.

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