Open my refrigerator, and you’ll find a stash of Japanese condiments and sauces—a mix of store-bought and homemade goodies. Among them is Tonkatsu Sauce (とんかつソース). This condiment is mandatory when it comes to serving Tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet), Chicken Katsu, and more. In today’s recipe, I’m sharing a simplified version of Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce using only four ingredients. You most likely already have them in the pantry, so you can whip up tonkatsu sauce anytime you need it. The great thing about making your own is that you can also adjust the sweetness to your liking.
What is Tonkatsu Sauce?
Tonkatsu sauce (とんかつソース) is served with Tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) and is often used for other deep-fried dishes like Korokke or to make Hambagu sauce. Tonkatsu sauce mainly consists of vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, prunes, dates, apples, lemon juice, carrots, onions, and celery. It also includes more than 10 kinds of spices along with soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. It’s a lot of work to make it from scratch, so most Japanese people would use the store-bought versions. However, if you don’t live near the Japanese/Asian grocery stores or prefer to make your own, you can always count on my easy homemade recipe.
The Most Popular Tonkatsu Sauce Brand
Ingredients for Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
Worcestershire sauce – I use Lea & Perrins brand. If you’re vegan, use vegan Worcestershire sauce. Sugar Ketchup – The sweetness of the ketchup varies, so adjust the amount of sugar based on the ketchup taste. Oyster sauce – Use Lee Kum Kee Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce if you’re vegetarian or allergic to shellfish.
How to Make the Best Tonkatsu Sauce
Okonomi Sauce and Yakisoba Sauce
We have different sauces for okonomiyaki and yakisoba although these three sauces are quite similar.
Homemade Okonomiyaki Sauce (Okonomi Sauce) Homemade Yakisoba Sauce
Recipes Using Tonkatsu Sauce
Tonkatsu (Baked Tonkatsu) Chicken Katsu (Baked Chicken Katsu) Korokke (Baked Croquette) Ham Katsu
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