My love for Katsu (especially Menchi Katsu)

My love for Katsu is strong. I’m pretty sure that one of the things that made me fall in love with katsu was that my mom was really good at making pretty much any kind of Katsu and we regularly ate it throughout my childhood years. It was my Japanese soul food that I couldn’t live without. It’s hard to say which one is the best, but if I had to make a choice, I would say Tonkatsu is my favorite!

And I remember, when I was pregnant with my son, I was craving Katsu so bad, that I had to eat it whenever I see it. I had some hesitation to eat Katsu so often while I was pregnant and I remember thinking if it’s really fine for my little peanut growing inside me, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Katsu and nothing could stop me from having them ;P

Japanese Katsu’s growing popularity in the US

It seems Tonkatsu and Katsu Sando has started to become very popular in the US. Tonkatsu is basically a deep fried version of the American pork chop, and who doesn’t like deep fried food? 😉 But people are so busy these days, what if there was a more convenient way to eat this tasty dish, perhaps in the form of a sandwich. That’s how the Katsu Sando came about. Here is a photo of what it looks like, doesn’t that look tasty!

What do you eat Katsu with?

The way I like to eat Katsu is simply by itself, so that I can enjoy the tastes and flavors of those simple ingredients. However, if I put something on it, I usually pick soy sauce. I think Tonkatsu sauce is well known and popular as Katsu sauce for most of the various kinds of Katsu, but for vegetable Katsu, some go well with Ponzu. Try if you haven’t! 🙂

Tonkatsu sauce
(とんかつソース)

Soy Sauce
(しょうゆ／醤油)

Ponzu
(ポン酢)

Katsu Dishes

There are other ways to enjoy Katsu, like Katsu curry rice (かつカレーライス), Katsudon (かつ丼), and Katsu Curry Udon (かつカレーうどん), etc. When I make Tonkatsu, I sometimes make more than the amount I serve to my family for dinner. I use the leftover pieces in a different katsu dish (like in the below pictures) the following day for lunch.

What is Menchi Katsu?

Now I would like to introduce Menchi Katsu. If you describe Menchi Katsu in a simple way, it is a deep fried minced beef ball. You make minced beef into ball shapes like this:

And dress them up with flour, beaten egg, and bread crumbs (パン粉), and then deep fry it in heated oil.

Yum, I can hear the sizzling sound from this picture and it’s making me want to have them right now!

If you want to know how to make Menchi Katsu, please let me know in the comments below and I will prioritize adding it to my growing list of recipes just for you!

Here is a photo of a recent Menchi Katsu dish I made for my family…Eat Well, Be Happy!

Read more about Tonkatsu in this blog post: Tonkatsu and Tonkotsu: Do You Get Them Confused?

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The post You may know Tonkatsu and Katsu Sando, but have you heard of Menchi Katsu? appeared first on EATwithOHASHI.

I came up with this idea because my husband often asks me to include more meat in my dishes. I guess it’s because he’s American and accustomed to eating dishes with a lot of meat in them. In Japanese food, of course we also eat meat, but not in comparable quantities. We tend to have more balance and equal proportions of the food in Japanese meals, and often prefer to include more vegetables or fish ingredients.

So I thought to make this dish one day, and it was a big hit in our home. The combination of the very juicy pork with the crunch of the asparagus is fantastic, even the kids like it! I also love the color combination and how it looks when served with other garnishes. Mouthwatering goodness!

This dish could be an appetizer, but I usually make it as the main dish with Japanese sides (e.g. white rice, miso soup with tofu), or served over a bed of cabbage with cherry tomatoes!

If you’re interested in this recipe, please let me know in the comment section below. What creations have you made with Asparagus, please share as I would love to try!

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The post Pork Belly with Asparagus Dish: You will be in Juicy, Crunchy, Mouthwatering Heaven! appeared first on EATwithOHASHI.

Pork is healthy for you, because it has the nutritional value that heals your tiredness, so I love the combination of this with so many green vegetables. This is well kept secret of the Okinawan people. You know they live for a very long time right? 😉 They love pork.

This Cold Pork Shabu Shabu is completed with this Goma sesame dressing. This dressing goes really well with pork and chicken as well as most of the vegetables. If you are interested in the dressing, here is the recipe:

Japanese Goma Sesame Dressing

See the recipe

Check the Cooking Kit

Let me know what you think of this dish in the comment section below!

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The post Shabu Shabu Can Be Cold and Good! – Pork Shabu Shabu Salad with Sesame Dressing appeared first on EATwithOHASHI.

Like this one:

Tabletop Stove

These are very common in Japan and used throughout winter when the entire family gathers around a nice warm pot of Japanese soul food.

And ideally, you want to use clay hot pot like this:

Clay Hot Pot

Alternatively, you could use a deep frying pan/skillet instead of clay hot pot.

Deep Frying Pan

Most of the effort is in the preparation, which is quite easy. Just chop and clean vegetables. Don’t you love the colors of the meat and vegetables in this photo? I’m getting hungry just looking at this photo while writing this post. I guess I will need to make a Japanese hot pot again soon.

The tricky part is finding a butcher or grocery store to slice the Shabu Shabu meat for you. Japanese supermarket is the easiest option, as you can find prepared meat, specifically for Shabu Shabu.

If you have any questions on where to buy these things or need advice, please comment below.

If you like to read about other hot pots, I recommend you these posts:

-Shio Koji Hot Pot Recipe – A Healthy Japanese Dish
-Hot & Spicy Soups / Hot Pots – Too Perfect For Those Cold Days
-Sukiyaki (すき焼き): My Favorite Dish to Eat When I’m Missing Japan
-Shio Koji Hot Pot Could be the Next Big Hit in the US, Move Aside Tonkotsu Ramen!

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The post Make Shabu Shabu at Home is Actually a Great Idea! – Japanese Shabu Shabu Hot Pot appeared first on EATwithOHASHI.

My husband calls this Japanese soul food and it’s top on his list. This dish is also one that tastes better the more time you spend making it. If you are interested to learn how to make this dish, please comment below! I’m constantly adding new recipes to my site, and I will try to prioritize which ones based on comments on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

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The post Buta no Kakuni – Tasty Japanese Pork Belly in Soy Sauce and Ginger Sauce appeared first on EATwithOHASHI.

During winter, or really anytime the weather gets cold, I’m always thinking to make Shio Koji hot pot. I love the mix of the vibrant colors in this dish, don’t you? When using high-quality and rich-tasting organic vegetables, there is really no better dish. From an appearance, taste, and health benefit. I can even get my kids to eat the vegetables sometimes.

If you are interested in making this dish at home, please check out my Japanese Shio Koji Hot Pot recipe with step-by-step cooking instructions. Enjoy with your family or friends on a cold winter day!

Here is a photo of my most recent creation…please comment below to tell me what you think of this dish!

If you like to read about other hot pots, I recommend you these posts:

-Shio Koji Hot Pot Recipe – A Healthy Japanese Dish
-Hot & Spicy Soups / Hot Pots – Too Perfect For Those Cold Days
-Sukiyaki (すき焼き): My Favorite Dish to Eat When I’m Missing Japan
-Make Shabu Shabu at Home is Actually a Great Idea! – Japanese Shabu Shabu Hot Pot

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The post Shio Koji Hot Pot Could be the Next Big Hit in the US, Move Aside Tonkotsu Ramen! appeared first on EATwithOHASHI.