Do you have a favorite burger that you crave sometimes? I have one, and it’s Ebi Katsu (Shrimp Cutlet) Burger (海老カツバーガー) from Japanese burger shops like Mos Burger and Lotteria.
What is Ebi Katsu Burger?
Simply it’s Shrimp Cutlet Burger. It’s a burger with shrimp patty that is covered in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried. The best way to describe Ebi Katsu is it’s a shrimp version of tonkatsu (pork) or chicken katsu. Wrapped in a crispy panko shell, it’s so good with tartar sauce and shredded cabbage inside soft burger buns. Today not only we’re making it at home, but we’re also going to make BAKED Ebi Katsu, instead of deep-frying!
5 Tips to Make Delicious Baked Ebi Katsu Burger
1. Pre-toast Panko
We pre-toast the panko in a frying pan till it turns the optimal golden brown color. That way, panko looks like they are deep fried and the texture of panko is crisp as if they were deep fried. Here’s a quick video to show you on how I did it for tonkatsu.
2. Make Plump Shrimp Patties
You could chop all the shrimp into paste form to make the burger patty. But we won’t do that for my shrimp patty. I like plump shrimp texture when I bite into the burger, so what I do is to create grid lines by cutting shallow cuts on one side of the shrimp. This way the shrimps become more pliable, and you can form a patty shape with 3-4 shrimps, depending on the burger bun size. Ebi Katsu Burgers in fast food restaurants use smaller shrimps (because they are cheaper), but if you’re making it at home, you can buy larger shrimps to make Ebi Katsu Burger. It’s the benefit of home cooking! And the larger shrimp definitely has a better texture.
3. Thinly Shred Cabbage
Why shredded cabbage? I often receive this question when my readers read my tonkatsu and chicken katsu recipes. Shredded cabbage is always served with katsu, it’s the norm in Japan. The crisp texture of cabbage and refreshing green leaves complements deep-fried dishes well. So almost always, deep-fried katsu burger includes shredded cabbage. The tip to cut cabbage super thinly? I use this cabbage slicer and it works magically! You can always use a sharp knife and practice.
4. Make Homemade Tartar Sauce
Panko crusted seafoods such as crab croquette and Ebi Fry are typically served with tartar sauce in Japan. If you have your favorite recipe, you can use it. Otherwise, my recipe here is a quick and delicious recipe that can be handy.
5. Get Good Burger Buns
I use brioche buns for this burger, but you can use any buns you like. These buns are from Draeger’s Market a local market here in the SF Bay Area. When I was shopping for meat there, I found these buns nearby and I really love how fluffy and soft they are. Trader Joe’s now sell brioche buns too, but the size of buns is larger than what I wanted.
Other Baked Recipes You May Like:
Baked Chicken Katsu Baked Tonkatsu Baked Fried Oyster (Kaki Furai) Baked Croquette Baked Crispy Salmon
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