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Breaded turkey katsu skewers on a baking tray with a jar of dipping sauce

  • Course

    Small Bites

  • Duration

    30 Minutes

Chef’s notes

I can't think of a better first meal after a successful turkey hunt than fried breast. This katsu recipe is based on a Japanese fried cutlet dish with a light, crunchy crust. I hammer the meat thin to tenderize it while also cutting down on the cook time. Less time in the fryer keeps the turkey extra juicy.

Although you can eat this turkey katsu with any of your favorite dipping sauces, tonkatsu sauce is definitely worth a try. The recipe below is an abbreviated version using ingredients that are likely on the condiment shelf in your fridge. It’s a tangy, barbeque-y sauce that you'll probably want to make in a big batch.

Turkey Katsu

Ingredients

  • Turkey breasts, wet-brined, skinless
  • Flour
  • Eggs, about 2 per breast
  • Panko breadcrumbs
  • Frying oil, as needed

Tonkatsu Sauce

  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. Shaoxing cooking wine (or substitute dry sherry)

Also works with

Any game bird breast

Special equipment

Deep fryer, skewers

Preparation

  1. Preheat frying oil to 350F. Prepare tonkatsu sauce by combining all ingredients.

  2. Slice the brined turkey breasts diagonally across the grain into ¼-inch-wide strips. Tenderize lightly with a meat mallet—you want them thin but not ripped to shreds.

  3. Prepare a breading station. Lightly whisk eggs in a shallow bowl and pour some flour and panko on separate, shallow plates.

  4. If your turkey wasn’t brined, season it lightly with salt. Skewer the slices of turkey then dredge in flour, shaking off the excess. Dip in egg wash, shake off excess, then dip into panko to coat both sides. Repeat with remaining turkey.

  5. Fry a few skewers in hot oil at a time until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Place finished turkey on a paper towel-lined pan. Serve hot with tonkatsu sauce.

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Save this recipe

Turkey Katsu

Recipe by: Wade Truong
Breaded turkey katsu skewers on a baking tray with a jar of dipping sauce

  • Course

    Small Bites

  • Duration

    30 Minutes

Chef’s notes

I can't think of a better first meal after a successful turkey hunt than fried breast. This katsu recipe is based on a Japanese fried cutlet dish with a light, crunchy crust. I hammer the meat thin to tenderize it while also cutting down on the cook time. Less time in the fryer keeps the turkey extra juicy.

Although you can eat this turkey katsu with any of your favorite dipping sauces, tonkatsu sauce is definitely worth a try. The recipe below is an abbreviated version using ingredients that are likely on the condiment shelf in your fridge. It’s a tangy, barbeque-y sauce that you'll probably want to make in a big batch.

Turkey Katsu

Ingredients

  • Turkey breasts, wet-brined, skinless
  • Flour
  • Eggs, about 2 per breast
  • Panko breadcrumbs
  • Frying oil, as needed

Tonkatsu Sauce

  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. Shaoxing cooking wine (or substitute dry sherry)

Also works with

Any game bird breast

Special equipment

Deep fryer, skewers

Preparation

  1. Preheat frying oil to 350F. Prepare tonkatsu sauce by combining all ingredients.

  2. Slice the brined turkey breasts diagonally across the grain into ¼-inch-wide strips. Tenderize lightly with a meat mallet—you want them thin but not ripped to shreds.

  3. Prepare a breading station. Lightly whisk eggs in a shallow bowl and pour some flour and panko on separate, shallow plates.

  4. If your turkey wasn’t brined, season it lightly with salt. Skewer the slices of turkey then dredge in flour, shaking off the excess. Dip in egg wash, shake off excess, then dip into panko to coat both sides. Repeat with remaining turkey.

  5. Fry a few skewers in hot oil at a time until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Place finished turkey on a paper towel-lined pan. Serve hot with tonkatsu sauce.