Crunchy golden katsu with a thick, fruity brown sauce is one of Japan’s best-loved comfort foods. The problem is the name. Tonkatsu means pork cutlet, and most bottled tonkatsu sauces are not halal-certified, so many Muslim customers skip it altogether. You do not have to. Our halal-certified Fry Sauce gives you the same sweet and tangy taste, and it is on the shelf now at Think GG Cash & Carry in Longsight, Manchester.
What is tonkatsu sauce
Tonkatsu sauce is a thick, sweet and tangy brown sauce, a bit like a richer, fruitier Worcestershire sauce. It is made mainly from fruit and vegetables and is served with breaded cutlets, croquettes and fried prawns. The name comes from the dish it is served with, not from what is in it.
Is tonkatsu sauce halal
The sauce itself does not usually contain pork. The issue is that most brands are not halal-certified, so you cannot be sure how the vinegar, flavourings and other ingredients were made. If you are checking a bottle, look out for alcohol or ethanol, wine or wine vinegar, and spirit vinegar. The simplest answer is to choose a sauce that is certified.
Our halal-certified Fry Sauce
Fry Sauce is made by Otafuku as a fruit and vegetable sauce for fried food, and it is part of our halal sauce range. Every sauce in the range is halal-certified and made with no alcohol, no wine and no spirit vinegar.
Two more sauces from the same range belong in a Japanese kitchen: Okonomi Sauce for okonomiyaki pancakes and Yakisoba Sauce for fried noodles.
Recipe: Chicken katsu with Fry Sauce
Serves 2.
Ingredients
- 2 halal chicken breasts or 4 boneless thighs
- Salt and black pepper
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 large handfuls of panko breadcrumbs
- Oil for frying
- Fry Sauce, finely shredded white cabbage and cooked Japanese rice to serve
Method
- Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally or flatten it to an even thickness of about 1.5cm, so it cooks evenly.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Coat each piece in flour, then egg, then panko, pressing the crumbs on firmly.
- Shallow fry in oil at about 170°C for 5 to 6 minutes, turning once, until deep golden and cooked through with no pink inside.
- Rest for 2 minutes, slice into strips and serve with cabbage and rice, with Fry Sauce drizzled over the top.
Air fryer option: spray the crumbed chicken with oil and cook at 200°C for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and cooked through.
Shortcut for busy evenings
Omakase Chicken Karaage is halal-certified Japanese fried chicken from our Omakase by Cupid range. Cook it from frozen, add rice and cabbage, and finish with Fry Sauce for a katsu-style plate in minutes.
Katsu sauce vs katsu curry sauce
They are different sauces. Katsu curry is served with a Japanese curry sauce. Tonkatsu sauce is the fruity brown sauce drizzled over the crumbed cutlet. Fry Sauce is the second kind.
More ways to use Fry Sauce
- Drizzle it over breaded butterfly king prawns.
- Serve it as a dip with pumpkin croquettes.
- Spread it inside a katsu sandwich or chicken burger.
- Mix it with mayonnaise for a quick dipping sauce.
For more ideas, see our guides to making halal ramen at home, what is in eel sauce and choosing tobiko, masago or Masagi.
Frequently asked questions
Does tonkatsu sauce contain pork?
Usually not. The name refers to the pork cutlet it is traditionally served with. Choose a halal-certified sauce so you know every ingredient is checked.
Is Fry Sauce the same as Bulldog sauce?
They are the same style of sauce. Bulldog is one well-known brand of tonkatsu-style sauce. Our Fry Sauce is a halal-certified version.
Where can I buy halal katsu sauce in Manchester?
At Think GG Cash & Carry in Longsight. Trade buyers across the UK can contact us for a quote.
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