tonkatsu

Yum.  This is a Japanese dish I grew up on (along with gyoza and others) that is very easy and tasty.  Tonkatsu is fried breaded pork cutlet, typically served with fresh shredded cabbage, and definitely with white rice and tonkatsu sauce.  It's my version of comfort food.

Ingredients:

Pork cutlets (2 per person)
1 package Panko breadcrumbs
Eggs (2)
Flour (1/2 cup)
Vegetable oil for frying
White rice
Tonkatsu sauce (or soy sauce, but you're really missing out)

Cook Japanese white sticky rice according to instructions on giant rice bag.  Go out and buy yourself a rice cooker.  You may not use basmati rice or Uncle Ben's.

Meanwhile, lightly flour the pork cutlets, coat in beaten egg, and press in Panko so all sides are covered.  Fry in a hot skillet with enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan, a few minutes on each side.  The pork doesn't take long to cook - you'll know it's ready when the Panko is dark golden brown.  Remove pork and dry on a paper towel, slice, and place over rice.  Drizzle tonkatsu sauce over the top.

The tonkatsu sauce is amazingly sweet and I could eat it on anything. You'll see on the label it says "vegetable and fruit sauce".  That's because the main ingredients are pureed apples, tomato, prune, carrot, distilled vinegar, and spices.  I know - hard to imagine the flavor, but trust me on this one.

ITADAKIMASU!