Chicken katsu

Chicken Katsu is a popular Japanese dish, a variant of the tonkatsu recipe, which uses chicken instead of pork. The term "katsu" is a shortened form of "katsuretsu", the Japanese transliteration of the English word "cutlet".

History

Chicken katsu is believed to have been first created during the Meiji era, a period of rapid Westernization in Japan. The dish was likely inspired by European cuisine, particularly the concept of the breaded cutlet, which was adapted to suit Japanese tastes.

Preparation

The preparation of chicken katsu involves coating a chicken cutlet in panko breadcrumbs and then deep frying it. The chicken is typically served sliced into strips, over a bed of cabbage and accompanied by tonkatsu sauce, a thick, sweet sauce made from fruits and vegetables. It can also be served with rice, miso soup, and pickles as part of a set meal, or "teishoku".

Variations

There are several variations of chicken katsu, including "katsu curry", where the chicken is served with Japanese curry, and "katsu sando", a sandwich made with chicken katsu. In Hawaii, a local version of the dish known as "chicken katsu plate lunch" is popular, which includes a side of macaroni salad and rice.

In popular culture

Chicken katsu has been featured in various forms of media, including anime and manga, where it is often depicted as a favorite food of certain characters. It has also been the subject of competitive eating contests in Japan.

See also

• Japanese cuisine
• Tonkatsu
• Katsu curry
• Katsu sando