Katsu Sando
Crisp pork cutlet sandwich with a tangy okonomiyaki sauce.
Ingredients
- 300 g Pork loin
- 100 g Panko
- 1 Egg
- 4 slices Baguette
- 3 tbsp Okonomiyaki sauce
- ¼ head Cabbage
- 2 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise
- 200 ml Neutral oil
- ½ tsp Salt
Method
- Finely shred the cabbage and set aside.
- Pound the pork loin to an even thickness and season with the salt. Dip it in the beaten egg, then press it firmly into the panko to coat all over.
- Heat the neutral oil in a deep pan to 175°C (350°F).
- Fry the breaded cutlet in the hot oil until golden and crisp, about 4 minutes per side, then drain on a rack and slice into fingers.
- Spread the bread with the Kewpie mayo, lay the cutlet on one slice, brush with the okonomiyaki sauce, pile on the shredded cabbage, and close the sandwich.
- Trim the crusts and cut into pieces to serve.
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About Katsu Sando
A katsu sando is Japan's refined take on the fried-cutlet sandwich: a crisp panko-breaded pork cutlet tucked between soft slices of bread, dressed simply and cut into neat fingers. What sets it apart from a diner pork sandwich is the restraint and the seasonings — Kewpie mayonnaise, richer and tangier than Western mayo thanks to egg yolks and rice vinegar, and a brush of sweet-savoury okonomiyaki sauce that gives the fruity, Worcestershire-like depth the sandwich is known for. Shredded cabbage adds freshness and crunch, and trimming the crusts turns it into the tidy, photogenic thing sold in convenience stores and specialty shops across Japan.
The bite is a satisfying stack of contrasts: crackling crumb, juicy pork, cool crisp cabbage and a sauce that is at once tangy, sweet and umami. It travels well and is meant to be eaten by hand, which makes it a popular lunch, picnic and train-journey food. This version keeps the cutlet crisp by frying it hot and slicing it into fingers, and it leans on two ready-made cornerstones — Kewpie mayo and okonomiyaki sauce — to deliver authentic flavour without a long list of condiments, so the sandwich comes together quickly once the pork is fried.
Katsu Sando: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Katsu Sando?
A serving has about 901 calories — 49.5g protein, 82.2g carbs, 42g fat, 6.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 49.5g of protein, roughly 22% of its calories.
Is Katsu Sando gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Panko, Baguette, Okonomiyaki sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
How long does Katsu Sando take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 22 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Katsu Sando make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.