Donburi (or rice bowls) are one of the giants of Japanese cuisine. They are the mainstay of teishoku-ya (Japanese diners) and staples in many family dinners. They are also the weeknight heroes that I count on for meal rotation. Today’s recipe is one of the most popular and classic types of donburi – Katsudon (かつ丼). You have soft and sticky Japanese rice topped with pork cutlet nestled in pillowy eggs and onions simmered in a sweet-savory sauce. It’s the best kind of comfort food everyone loves! Now let’s make this at home.
What is Katsudon
The word “katsudon” is a portmanteau, or a blending of two separate Japanese words. “Katsu” comes from “tonkatsu,” or breaded, fried cutlet, and “don (丼)” comes from “donburi” (丼ぶり), which translates to “large bowl.” This dish is primarily made up of layers of steamed rice, breaded pork cutlet, and an umami-rich sauce. There are many versions of katsudon based on the region, but everyone seems to love the addition of simmered onions and egg poured on top. How this winning combination of pork cutlet, rice, and sauce came to be is up for debate? I have read a few fascinating theories. The dish has even become a kind of good luck charm for Japanese students! More on this below.
Brief History of Katsudon
Deep-fried, breaded cutlet (tonkatsu) goes all the way back to Japan’s Meiji period (1868-1912). However, one theory on the birth of katsudon is said to have taken place in 1921, when a high school student at Waseda University was looking for an alternative to katsu curry at the café he frequented. The student, Keiniro Nakanishi, is said to have gone into the kitchen and layered the fried pork cutlet over a bowl of rice and then simmered in tonkatsu sauce together before pouring it over the tonkatsu. He convinced the restaurant owner to sell the dish, and it wasn’t long before it became a local favorite among students. Another interesting association katsudon has is with police interrogations, thanks to one fictional story. In post-War Japan, katsudon was a rare treat among the working class, and a popular detective story written around that time featured the dish when a detective ordered it for a suspect during interrogation because he knew the food in jail would not be nearly as delicious. The suspect was moved by his kindness and confessed to the crime. I guess even in fiction, katsudon is quite powerful!
How to Make Katsudon
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
Tonkatsu – regular deep-fried version or baked version Onion Broth – dashi (Japanese soup stock), sugar, mirin, and soy sauce Eggs Green onion Freshly steamed, Japanese short-grain rice
Overview: Quick Steps
Helpful Tips to Make Katsudon
Make sure to use a tight-fitting lid so the broth doesn’t evaporate too fast! The onion should be translucent and tender so they give sweet flavors to the dish. Should Tonkatsu be crispy? No, the bottom of the tonkatsu is supposed to absorb all the delicious broth flavor, and the top of the tonkatsu should be coated with creamy egg! Do not overcook the egg. Usually, it takes between 30-60 seconds for the egg to set. I make sure to buy fresh eggs for this kind of dish so we can enjoy its runny texture.
No Deep-Frying? Try My Baked Katsudon!
For those of you who still prefer a lighter version of tonkatsu and don’t want to deep-fry in your kitchen, you can check out my Baked Katsudon recipe. It’s wildly popular, and JOC fans simply love it!
Eat Katsudon for Luck!
Because “katsu” is also a Japanese word meaning “to win (勝つ),” katsudon is a dish that students and athletes eat on the day of, or the day before, big exams or games. So, the next time you have a test or competition where you need a good luck charm, consider this recipe! Love Donburi? Check out these 12 popular rice bowl recipes! Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
