Say hello to your favorite Japanese condiment! This 4-ingredient tonkatsu sauce recipe tastes just like the real thing and pairs beautifully with katsu cutlets, croquettes, and other deep fried foods. It can also be used as a spread for sandwiches or as a sauce for chicken or beef.
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy to make. The entire recipe only takes 5 minutes and requires 4 ingredients.
- Kid friendly. This sauce is extremely kid friendly because of its sweet and fruity flavors.
- Long shelf life. Because the ingredients used have a long shelf life, this tonkatsu sauce can be kept in the fridge for several months. This means you can make a big bottle of it, refrigerate it, and not worry about it.
Table of contents
- Why This Recipe Works
- What is Tonkatsu Sauce?
- Ingredients for Tonkatsu Sauce
- How to Make Tonkatsu Sauce
- Adjusting the Taste
- Vegan Tonkatsu Sauce
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to Serve with Tonkatsu Sauce
What is Tonkatsu Sauce?
Tonkatsu sauce – とんかつソース – (sometimes also referred to as katsu sauce) is a sweet and tangy Japanese condiment used for dipping or as a sauce for sandwiches. It’s made using a mixture of fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, celery, carrots, apples, and prunes, a variety of spices, and condiments such as soy sauce and vinegar.
It’s been around since 1902, right around the time when western food was becoming popular in Japanese homes. The sauce was developed to accommodate the Japanese palate and was used on western dishes such as cutlets and other fried foods.
Tonkatsu sauce can also be referred to as Japanese barbecue sauce. Parts of the flavor profile you might associate with a good Western style BBQ sauce are represented in this iconic Japanese sauce.
What Does Tonkatsu Mean?
The word tonkatsu actually means pork cutlet so the literal translation for tonkatsu sauce is pork cutlet sauce. You might have seen it sold in Asian stores next to the ketchup or barbecue sauce. The Bulldog brand is by far the most popular tonkatsu sauce and is sold in three different flavors – Worcestershire (a spicier version), semi-sweet, and classic.
Ingredients for Tonkatsu Sauce
Scroll all the way down for the full recipe.
- Ketchup:One of the two main ingredients for this sauce. Ketchup adds a tangy sweetness that can only be found in tomato based products.
- Worcestershire Sauce:Usually, Worcestershire is used sparingly because of its strong flavor. But when it comes to making tonkatsu sauce, as much as 1/4 cup is used. So you can expect plenty of smokiness!
- Sugar: Just a teaspoon to adjust the sweetness of the sauce.
- Soy Sauce:A couple of teaspoons of soy sauce for umami and saltiness.
How to Make Tonkatsu Sauce
Whisk all the ingredients in a bowl and serve. Easy!
Adjusting the Taste
I created this recipe to mimic the taste of Bulldog’s classic tonkatsu sauce as close as possible. Here are easy ways to adjust the taste to your preference:
- If you prefer something spicier, add a little more Worcestershire sauce. You could even mince a couple of Thai chilis and add them to the sauce.
- If you prefer it sweeter, add more ketchup and a sprinkle of sugar. You could also substitute honey for sugar.
Vegan Tonkatsu Sauce
If you are vegan but would like to give this recipe a try, use vegan Worcestershire, or make it from scratch by following the recipe below. This recipe makes about 1/4 cup.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of allspice
Directions: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and use.
Storage
To store homemade tonkatsu sauce, keep it in a jar or other storage container, and refrigerate for several months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good substitute for tonkatsu sauce?
Tonkatsu sauce is part of a triumvirate of Japanese style sauces, unsurprisingly called ‘sauce’ (ソース) – [pronounced so-su]. While the tastes of these sauces may be slightly different, many of the base ingredients are the same. You can use usuta sauce (ウスターソース), which is a thinner and more watery version, or chuno sauce (中濃ソース), which is more of a split-the-difference type of sauce from a viscosity.
What does tonkatsu sauce taste like?
Like a sweeter version of a classic barbecue sauce. It’s not as smoky and has a fruitier taste.
I don’t want to make tonkatsu sauce from scratch. Is there a brand you can recommend?
Of course! I recommend using Bulldog because it’s the most famous and loved brand in Japan (and all over the world). My whole family in Japan uses it, and we do as well!
Where can I buy tonkatsu sauce?
Tonkatsu sauce is fairly easy to find. In bigger cities like New York and Los Angeles, you might be able to find it regular grocery stores. If not, Asian supermarkets and Japanese grocery stores will have it. Or, you can order it here on Amazon.
What to Serve with Tonkatsu Sauce
Any type of breaded cutlet will pair beautifully with this sauce since it was originally intended for pork cutlets. In fact, I find that most deep fried dishes pair really well with tonkatsu sauce. It also makes a delicious dipping sauce or condiment for foods like french fries, burgers, and sandwiches. Basically, use tonkatsu sauce like you would use barbecue sauce.
Some of my favorite dishes to pair with this sauce are:
- Breaded tofu chicken
- Tofu edamame patties
- Baked chicken katsu
- Beef and potato croquettes (korokke)
- Takoyaki
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Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 11 reviews
- Author: Caroline Phelps
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About 1/2 cup 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Mixing Bowl
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Diet: Vegetarian
Save Recipe
Description
Meet Japan’s version of barbecue sauce! This is a deliciously sweet and smoky Japanese sauce made with just 4 ingredients, and ready in 5 minutes.
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and serve.
Notes
Refrigerate the tonkatsu sauce in a jar or container for several months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 40
- Sugar: 6.9g
- Sodium: 399.3mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9.7g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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