Japanese pork cutlet
- 4 slices lean boneless pork;
- 3 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce (shoyu);
- 3 tablespoons mirin or dry sherry;
- 1 clove garlic, crushed;
- ½ teaspoon Japanese pepper (sansho), or ground black pepper;
- 1 egg, beaten;
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped spring onions;
- 1 cup soft white breadcrumbs;
- oil for shallow-frying;
- shreds of pickled ginger for serving.
Instructions:
- This is a simple and satisfying dish that does not take a great deal of preparation. Ask your butcher for a cut of pork suitable for quick cooking. Butchers are pretty independent and call cuts of meat by names that are not traditional - for example, slices of pork neck are sometimes labelled ‘Scotch fillet’, which is normally associated with beef. Pork fillet or bolar blade would do as well, if cut thinly as for schnitzel.
- Beat the pork slices slightly to ensure they are thin.
- Mix together the shoyu, mirin, garlic and sansho and turn each slice of pork in the marinade to coat both sides. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
- Beat the egg well and mix in the spring onions. Have the beaten egg in one large deep plate and the breadcrumbs in another. Dip each slice of pork first in the beaten egg and then in the breadcrumbs, pressing them firmly on both sides. Cover and chill for at least an hour.
- When ready to cook heat a large, heavy frying pan and pour in sufficient oil to cover the base of pan. When the oil is hot add the crumbed pork and cook quickly over medium heat until golden brown on both sides, turning once during cooking. Depending on the size of the pan it may be necessary to cook the pork in two batches. Do not crowd the pan. Lift out with tongs and drain on absorbent paper. Cut each piece into strips and assemble the strips in the original shape.
- Serve on steamed rice and garnish with pickled ginger. If liked, serve with a tempura-style dipping sauce, which may be bought in a bottle, or mix together 3 tablespoons each of shoyu and mirin and stir in 250 ml (8 fl oz/1 cup) of dashi (instant variety) made following the instructions on the packet.