From Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories · 2016-2019 · Reconstructed
Ham Katsu
Serve when
Serve when Mr. Nakatsuka, one month from retirement, recognizes his long-lost brother on the news and remembers the Othello games they played for ham cutlets.
In the series
Season 1
- S1E9 · ~00:12:50 Retiring attorney Mr. Nakatsuka eats ham katsu at the counter, the same dish he and his brother Kenta used to play Othello for as kids
In the series
Ham katsu is a kid's prize in this episode — the stake in an Othello game between two brothers, back before one vanished and the other became a lawyer who never talked about him again. Frying it as an adult is Mr. Nakatsuka closing a debt that's been open for thirty-five years.
Ingredients
Method
- Pat the ham slices dry. Dredge each in flour, dip in beaten egg, then coat thoroughly in panko.
- Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a skillet to 340°F (170°C).
- Fry the ham slices in batches until the panko is deep golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side — the ham is already cooked, so this is really about the crust.
- Drain on a rack and slice into strips.
- Serve with shredded cabbage, tomato wedges, and tonkatsu sauce for dipping.
Substitutions
- Thick-sliced ham: Ask the deli counter for a thicker cut than usual — thin sandwich ham fries too fast and toughens before the crust sets.