This juicy and crispy air fryer tonkatsu is straightforward, wholesome, and scrumptious! The key to the paleo and gluten-free crunchy crust is plantain chips!
What’s tonkatsu?
Tonkatsu or pork katsu is a standard Japanese dish that consists of a boneless pork loin chop coated in a panko breadcrumb crust after which deep-fried. Served with a pile of thinly-sliced cabbage and tangy Tonkatsu Sauce, this crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside pork loin is considered one of my favourite washoku dishes.
After I went paleo and gluten-free, I assumed my pork katsu consuming days have been over. Nonetheless, after I found that plantain chip crumbs make a superb paleo breadcrumb crust (e.g., air fryer rooster nuggets and air fryer fish sticks), I began experimenting with a paleo tonkatsu recipe. As a result of I don’t love deep frying meals on weekdays, I centered my efforts on creating an air fryer model and an oven-baked model. After a lot of testing in my house kitchen, I’m completely happy to report that my onerous work paid off!
Why ought to I make this model?
- No deep-frying required! No want coping with spattering scorching oil and even pan-frying!
- It’s gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo!
- This air fryer or oven-baked tonkatsu could be cooked in lower than half-hour!
- It’s a household favourite and your children will adore it!
Are you able to make paleo tonkatsu within the oven?
Sure! It gained’t come out fairly as crunchy because the air fryer model, however you possibly can positively make this tonkatsu recipe within the oven. To get the very best outcomes, place the breaded pork chops on an oven-safe wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet. Additionally, use the convection mode if in case you have it! My oven-baked tonkatsu instructions are beneath and within the printable recipe card.
Are you able to make keto tonkatsu?
Sure! I’ve made this air fryer tonkatsu with crushed pork rinds (a.ok.a. chicharrones) instead of the plantain chips and it really works properly. Nonetheless, I believe the style and texture is healthier with the crushed plantain chips coating.
Elements
- Boneless pork loin chops: Purchase boneless pork loin chops with a skinny layer of fats on the highest. Chooser thinner pork chops—¾-inch or ½-inch thick chops are ultimate. Any thicker and the pork chops will take too lengthy to prepare dinner and the crust will get soggy because it sits.
- Plantain chips or strips:Â Rather than panko bread crumbs, I crush up plantain chips to make the crunchy coating. I purchase plantain chips or plantain strips which are fried in sustainable palm oil or coconut oil to maintain this dish paleo-friendly. My favourite model is Artisan Tropics.
- Cassava flour: I exploit cassava flour to frivolously coat the seasoned pork chops earlier than I dip them within the egg wash and plantain crumbs. For those who don’t have cassava flour, you possibly can substitute gluten-free all-purpose flour, tapioca flour, or arrowroot powder.
- Giant eggs: Sadly, I don’t assume you possibly can pass over the egg—it’s important to get the plantain crumbs to stay to the pork chops.
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
- Avocado oil spray: Use an avocado spray with none components so it gained’t trigger a sticky buildup in your air fryer insert.
- Tonkatsu Sauce
How one can make air fryer tonkatsu
Put together the pork loin chops
Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel. Then, use a pointy paring knife to chop two small slits on the fatty fringe of the pork chops—it will hold the pork chop edges from curling up once they prepare dinner within the air fryer or oven.
Use a meat pounder or meat mallet to smash the chops till they’re about ½-inch thick. In case your pork chops are already ½-inch thick, you don’t have to pound them.
Sprinkle the pork cutlets on each side with Diamond Crystal kosher salt and freshly floor black pepper.
Place a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet and set it apart.
Put together the tonkatsu coating
Toss the plantain chips or plantain strips right into a meals processor and course of till a rough powder is fashioned. (No meals processor? You’ll be able to put the chips in a plastic meals storage bag and bash them with one thing heavy till the chips are pulverized.) You need to find yourself with 1 cup of crushed plantain crumbs.
Arrange the breading station utilizing three shallow dishes
Within the first shallow dish, pour within the crushed plantain chips. Reserve about half of the plantain crumbs to make sure that you’ll have sufficient for all 4 pork chops—you possibly can pour in further crumbs as wanted). Within the second dish, add the cassava flour.
Within the final bowl, whisk collectively the eggs and ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Coat the pork chops with the breading
Frivolously coat a pork chop within the cassava flour, shaking off the surplus flour. Then, dip it within the egg combination, ensuring it’s properly coated however not tremendous goopy. Lastly, coat the pork chop utterly with crushed plantain chips and place the pork chop on the ready wire rack within the rimmed baking sheet. Repeat this course of with the remainder of the pork chops.
Air fryer tonkatsu directions
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. (My favourite air fryer is that this mannequin.) When the air fryer is prepared, frivolously spray the underside of the air fryer with avocado oil spray and organize the pork chops in a single layer.
Spray the tops of the pork chops with avocado oil.
Air fry the pork katsu at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes or till the outsides are golden brown and the facilities are barely pink and the interior temperature reaches 145°F.
Oven-baked tonkatsu directions
Warmth the oven to 425°F standard or 400°F convection bake with the rack within the center. Organize the pork cutlets on an oven-proof wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet. Spray the tops of the breaded chops with avocado oil spray.
Bake the tonkatsu till the skin is golden brown and the pork is barely pink and the interior temperature is 145°F, about 10 to 13 minutes.
How one can serve the tonkatsu
Slice up the tonkatsu…
…and serve the crunchy pork with shredded cabbage dressed with sesame ginger dressing and tonkatsu sauce (a candy and tangy Worcestershire sauce).
For those who’re not consuming paleo, be happy to make katsudon rice bowls by serving these pork chops over rice!
In search of extra recipe concepts? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll additionally discover unique recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Meals for People (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Prepared or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).
 PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
Print Recipe
Wholesome Tonkatsu (Air Fryer or Oven Baked)
This juicy and crispy air fryer tonkatsu is straightforward, wholesome, and scrumptious! The key to the paleo and gluten-free crunchy crust is plantain chips!
Servings: 4
Energy: 426kcal
Elements
- 4 boneless pork loins attempt to get pork chops which are ½-inch to ¾-inch thick
- Diamond Crystal kosher saltÂ
- ¼ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
- 4 ounces inexperienced plantain chips
- 2 tablespoons cassava flour or tapioca or arrowroot powder
- 2 giant eggs
- Avocado oil spray
- Tonkatsu Sauce optionally available dipping sauce
DirectionsÂ
Put together the pork chops
-
Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel. Then, use a pointy paring knife to chop two small slits on the fatty fringe of the pork chops—it will hold the pork chop edges from curling up once they prepare dinner within the air fryer or oven.
-
Use a meat pounder or meat mallet to smash the chops so that they’re about ½-inch thick. In case your pork chops are already ½-inch thick, you don’t have to pound them.
-
Sprinkle the pork cutlets on each side with Diamond Crystal kosher salt and freshly floor black pepper.
-
Place a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet and put aside.
-
Plop the plantain chips or plantain strips in a meals processor and course of till a rough powder is fashioned. (No meals processor? You’ll be able to place the chips in a ziplock bag and bash them with one thing heavy till the chips are pulverized.) You need to find yourself with 1 cup of crushed plantain crumbs.
-
Seize three shallow bowls in your breading station. Within the first one, pour within the crushed plantain chips. You’ll be able to reserve half of the plantain crumbs to make sure that you might have sufficient for all 4 pork chops (pour in further crumbs as wanted). In the second, add the cassava flour. Within the final bowl, whisk collectively the eggs and ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
-
Frivolously coat a pork chop within the cassava flour, shaking off the surplus flour. Then, dip it within the egg combination, ensuring it’s properly coated however not tremendous goopy. Within the final step, coat the pork chop utterly with crushed plantain chips and place the pork chop on the ready wire rack within the rimmed baking sheet. Repeat the method with the remainder of the pork chops.
Air Fryer Tonkatsu Directions
-
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. When the air fryer is prepared, frivolously spray the underside of the air fryer with avocado oil spray and place the pork chops in a single layer.
-
Spray the tops of the pork chops with avocado oil.
-
Air fry the pork katsu at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes or till the skin is golden brown and the middle is barely pink and the interior temperature is 145°F.
-
Slice up the tonkatsu and serve it with tonkatsu sauce (a candy Worcestershire sauce) and shredded cabbage dressed with sesame ginger dressing, if desired.
Oven Baked Tonkatsu Directions
-
Warmth the oven to 425°F standard or 400°F convection bake with the rack within the center. Place the pork cutlets on an oven-proof wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet. Spray the tops of the breaded chops with avocado oil spray.
-
Bake the tonkatsu till the skin is golden brown and the pork is barely pink and the interior temperature is 145°F, about 10 to 13 minutes.
-
Slice up the tonkatsu and serve it with tonkatsu sauce (a candy Worcestershire sauce) and shredded cabbage dressed with sesame ginger dressing, if desired.
Notes
For those who’re not paleo, be happy to make a katsudon rice bowls by serving the pork chops over rice!
Diet
Energy: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 34g | Fats: 20g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g
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