Air Fryer Tonkatsu Pork

Air Fryer Tonkatsu Pork is one of the most delicious Japanese dishes I’ve ever had. It’s breaded boneless fried pork chops, and the breading consists of eggs, four, and Panko breading. Frying these pork cutlets in the air fryer made them crispy outside, moist and tender inside. The sauce is amazing, and I also use it to marinate any type of meat.

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Air Fryer Tonkatsu Pork vs. Tonkotsu

They sound alike but have different meanings. Tonkatsu is breaded pork cutlet then fried, normally serve with shredded cabbage. While Tonkotsu is a type of broth made with pork. Now you know why you shouldn’t order Tonkatsu broth when you go to a Japanese restaurant. If you like to dive into more details about these dishes go to “what’s the difference” by Megan Taylor Stephens.

I love creating new dishes and making them into my version. Tonkatsu is one of my daughter’s favorite fried foods. It’s usually served with shredded cabbage or smothered in curry sauce. I made mine with sweet and tangy sauce, and then for the side dish, I made stir-fried veggies. The sauce is amazingly delicious, it goes very well with the pork. Did I mention I used my air fryer? Yes, it’s air fried, and that means less oil and less mess too. Don’t have to worry about oil splatter and heavy cleaning of pots and pans. This Air Fryer Tonkatsu Pork is now the new favorite dinner of my family. You can also check out my Air Fryer Fish Fillets, it’s delicious and perfect with the mango salsa I made. 

Ingredients

• Buy boneless pork chops. However, if you find a great deal for pork tenderloin, then grab it. 
• Panko breading makes your meat a lot crispier. It also tastes better than just regular flour. 
• Flour, eggs, and water are the ingredients for the batter. I decided to make an easy batter instead of just dredging the pork chops into straight flour. This allows the outer layer to get a lot crispier and adds more flavor to the Air Fryer Tonkatsu Pork. 
• The sauce is so delicious and very easy to make. I combined soy sauce, oyster sauce, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and brown sugar. 
• A slurry is a mixture of flour and water. This combination helps thickens the sauce and gives a nice glossy finish to your dish. 
• Stir fry veggies are my go-to whenever I need a quick and easy side dish. I like to saute my onion, garlic, and ginger until fragrant. For the veggies, it’s a combination of broccoli, carrot, and mushrooms. 
• Stir fry sauce is the flavor enhancer that gives your veggies a boost of flavor. For this dish, I added soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. 

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how to make Air Fryer Tonkatsu Pork

1. Prep the Air Fryer Tonkatsu Pork.  I like to pound the Panko breading or place them in a food processor and then pulse it for 30 seconds to get a finer texture. I also find that it won’t get a nice golden color unless used for deep frying. Toasting the Panko breading first in a nonstick skillet will give your chops a nice golden color. Immediately remove from the pan once it turns golden brown. 
2. To tenderize the pork chops, I used plastic wraps, lay them on a cutting board or flat surface, and then cover the meat with it. I used the mallet and pounded the meat until it flattened. 
3. Make the batter. In a bowl, combine flour, eggs, and cold water, then season with salt and pepper. Mix until smooth. If the batter is too thick, keep adding water a little at a time to thin it out. 
4. Time to dredge the pork chops. Make two stations, one for the toasted Panko breading (cooled down) and the other for your batter. First, dip the chops into the batter and shake off the excess. Then, dredge into the toasted Panko and firmly press to cover the whole pork chop. 
5. Air fry the pork chops. Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF for 10 minutes. Remove the basket and spray with oil. Place the chops in the basket (2 pieces at a time, to avoid crowding) and fry for 15 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 145ºF. Remove from the basket and rest on a cooling rack for 5 minutes before slicing. 
6. Make the sauce. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, water, and cornstarch. Constantly stir until the sauce thickened. Set it aside. 

7. Stir fry the veggies. 

Heat a wok or wide pan with oil. Saute the onion until tender or translucent. Add the mushrooms, and continue sauteing until tender. For the aromatics, add garlic and ginger, and cook until fragrant. Stir in the veggies, and continue sauteing until slightly tender (don’t over cook your veggies). Drizzle the sesame oil at the end of the cooking. 

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frequently ask questions

HOW TO REHEAT THE AIR FRYER TONKATSU PORK:

• Preheat the air fryer for at least 5 minutes at 350ºF. Remove the basket and spray with oil. Place the pork chops in the basket and reheat them for 10 minutes or until heated through. Or sometimes I use the toaster oven.  I try not to use the microwave for breaded foods, they turn chewy instead of crispy. 

WHAT OTHER SIDE DISH TO SERVE ASIDE FROM STIRY FRY VEGGIES:

• Traditionally Tonkatsu is serve with shredded cabbage, I just decided to make the stir fry veggies for some varieties. Honestly, you can serve it with whatever you want, even some mashed potatoes would be good. 

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE AN AIR FRYER:

• No problem. You can use a nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet. Add a good amount of oil, and fry the pork chops until golden brown or until the internal temperature reaches 145ºF. You can also bake them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Grease a heat proof wire rack. Place it on top of a baking sheet pan, then place the pork chops on it (it’s for heat circulation for even baking). Bake them for 15 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 145ºF. 

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