Katsu-don is a classic Japanese donburi (rice bowl) dish featuring a crispy pork cutlet smothered in a sweet and savory sauce.

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• 2 pork loin slices (about 200g each)
• ¼ head cabbage, shredded
• ½ onion, thinly sliced
• 2 eggs
• Vegetable oil, as needed
• For the donburi sauce:
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
  • 2 tablespoons sake (Japanese rice wine)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
• Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions

1. Trim excess fat and cut slits into the pork loin slices. Use a meat mallet to pound the meat to an even thickness.
2. Shred the cabbage and thinly slice the onion.
3. In a saucepan, combine the donburi sauce ingredients and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
4. Beat the eggs until well combined.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the pork cutlets until golden brown on both sides. Drain excess oil.
6. Add a small amount of additional oil to the same pan and pour in the beaten eggs to make a thin omelet.
7. Divide cooked rice into bowls, top with shredded cabbage, and then place the fried pork cutlets on top. Add the omelet and drizzle with the donburi sauce. Garnish with shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven-spice chili pepper mix) if desired.

Tips

• Pounding the pork cutlets to an even thickness ensures even cooking and prevents curling.
• Adjust the donburi sauce to your preferred taste.
• Cook the omelet to a slightly runny consistency for a more flavorful dish.

Variations

• Substitute chicken breasts for pork loin.
• Replace cabbage with lettuce, spinach, or other leafy greens.
• Add shredded nori (seaweed) to the rice for a colorful touch.

Health and beauty benefits

By consuming Katsu-don, you can obtain a well-balanced intake of various nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, from diverse ingredients like pork, eggs, and rice.
Particularly, pork is rich in high-quality protein, which is believed to aid in muscle growth and improve physical strength. Additionally, eggs contain vitamin B2, which promotes skin cell turnover and contributes to beautiful skin. Furthermore, pork also provides vitamin B1, essential for converting carbohydrates into energy, and is thought to promote fatigue recovery.