Menchi katsu is a Japanese dish consisting of ground meat patties breaded in panko and deep fried. This air fryer menchi katsu eliminates the deep frying step, making for even easier cooking and cleanup. If you’ve ever thought about trying a deep fried hamburger, this recipe is for you!
What is Menchi Katsu?
Menchi katsu is essentially a deep fried, breaded hamburger patty. “Menchi” comes from the word “mince,” as in minced meat. And katsu, as many of you are probably aware, refers to a category of dishes in Japan that is breaded in panko bread crumbs and deep fried.
It’s funny that so many people associate America with deep fried foods, but I think Japan may actually have America beat. I mean, have you ever had a deep fried hamburger in America? I know some of you probably have. But to put it in perspective, you can find this kind of deep fried hamburger pretty much throughout the entire country of Japan. And people make it at home as well! Take that, America.
Ingredients for Menchi Katsu
Menchi katsu is a type of yoshoku, which is a category of Japanese food that has Western culinary influences. Omelette rice and hamburg steak are other examples of yoshoku.
Actually… menchi katsu is just deep fried hamburg steak. So I just used my same hamburg steak recipe that I use in my loco moco for this recipe too.
The ingredients are pretty simple! The hamburger patties are made from a mix of pork and beef. I like half and half, but you can do all beef or whatever ratio you like. I also have chopped onions, eggs, panko, and milk in my hamburger patties. But honestly, you could even do this with just meat.
To bread the hamburgers, you need panko, flour, and eggs. As with my other katsu recipes, I always use a flour/egg batter instead of dipping in each ingredient separately. I find it creates a thicker crust. Then, dip in panko and fry.
If you are deep frying, simply use regular panko. If using the air fryer, I like to toast my panko in a frying pan prior to breading. This gives the panko a brown color and toasty flavor, similar to when you deep fry. Otherwise, the air fryer leaves the panko kind of pale. But really, this step is optional.
Air Frying vs. Deep Frying Menchi Katsu
My recipe below gives instructions for air frying. However, if you’d like to deep fry, the great news is that you don’t really have to change anything. Simply use untoasted panko for the breading and fry in oil heated to 350 degrees F until cooked through.
How to Serve Menchi Katsu
I serve menchi katsu as a main dish, similar to any other katsu. I like to have it with tonkatsu sauce and rice, and maybe a side cabbage salad. But I’m not the katsu police. You do you.
More Japanese Air Fryer Recipes
If you enjoyed this air fryer menchi katsu recipe, take a look at these other Japanese air fryer foods:
Air Fryer Menchi Katsu
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
For Hamburger
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup panko
- 1/2 onion fine dice
- 2 eggs
- salt and pepper to taste
For Breading
- 2 cups panko toasted
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 eggs
- oil spray
Instructions
- Toast 2 cups of panko and set aside for your breading.
- Soak 1/2 cup of untoasted panko bread crumbs in milk for a few minutes while you get the rest of your hamburg steak ingredients.
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, ground pork, onions, 2 eggs, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add in soaked panko crumbs.
- Mix with your hands until thoroughly combined, but try not to overmix. Form 16 patties.
- Mix 1/4 cup flour and two eggs in a shallow dish.
- Bread each hamburger patty by dipping into the flour/egg batter and then into the toasted panko.
- Place breaded patties into the air fryer and spray with oil spray (you may have to do this in two batches).
- Air fry at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until patties are cooked through.
Video
Notes
- You can use any combination of beef and pork that you like. I’ve also done this recipe with all beef.