Ham Katsu (ハムカツ) is Panko-coated deep-fried thinly sliced ham. It was a popular food in the Showa era (1926-1989) in Japan. Ham Katsu has been more of a nostalgic food than anything else, but it’s getting more attention lately, and making a small come-back in the restaurant scene there.
It is unknown where Ham Katsu was made first, but it became popular as take-out food at meat shops. It was cheaply made, greasy and tasty, and it gained popularity when Japan was still an up and coming country. What we remember about Ham Katsu in the 70s and 80s is that it was a filling for sandwiches. Packaged Katsu sandwiches from factories, not from bakeries, were often made with Ham Katsu, not Tonkatsu fried pork. Ham Katsu as a filling for sandwiches was so thin that it seemed almost to be only fried batter and Panko bread crumbs without anything inside.
Today, you can find Ham Katsu at local meat shops and sometimes Izakaya bars. Ham Katsu has evolved, and it could be made with a much thicker cut of ham or with ham layered with cheese. It is still categorized as B-class gourmet or even junk food, but there are big enough audiences who keep Ham Katsu alive in Japanese cuisine.
When you are making Ham Katsu at home, choose whatever ham you like. If you want authentic cheap Ham Katsu, use cheap lunch meat. Or use a thicker cut to enjoy a more updated version. It tastes surprisingly good, and can be a good main dish for everyday dinner. You can simply sprinkle some salt over Ham Katsu or drizzle with Tonkatsu Sauce. It is super easy to make, so try this one today!
Ham Katsu Recipe
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Ingredients
- 4 pieces ham thinly sliced
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- deep-frying oil
Instructions
- Make sure to remove moisture from the surface of each slice of ham.
- In a medium bowl, mix egg, flour, and water well. Coat sliced ham in the batter first and then coat with Panko bread crumbs.
- Heat oil at medium high heat, then deep-fry the coated ham for a couple of minutes, turning once or twice.
- Cut into bite-size pieces to serve if you like.
Video
