Tofu Katsu Recipe (Japanese Vegan Steak) (2024)

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This easy vegan Japanese Tofu Katsu recipe tastes as delicious as the popular crispy crusted sweet and sour chicken steak from your favorite Asian restaurant! Serve it with sweet chili sauce or tonkatsu sauce over rice and napa cabbage for a satisfying lunch or dinner that’s better than takeout!

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What is “katsu”?

Katsu is a popular dish in Japan that can be served in a variety of ways. The popular Japanese “Chicken Katsu” is basically a simple dish of crispy fried chicken fillets with panko breading that’s often served with a sweet and fruity Katsu curry sauce. Another popular variation is the “tonkatsu” of pork cutlet that’s traditionally served with a sweet-and-sour sauce over rice and chopped napa cabbage, similar to my vegan tofu katsu.

However, there are many more different Katsu variations in Japan, like “Menchikatsu” made of minced meat, “Gyukatsu” made of beef, up to Katsu recipes with ham, cheese, fish and seafood or vegan with tofu – the possibilities are endless!

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Tofu Katsu Curry and Tonkatsu

Basically, you can serve your tofu katsu with any Japanese sauce and side dish, because the crispy crusted vegan steak goes well with everything! With all these various possibilities, my tofu katsu recipe is inspired by the Tonkatsu serving suggestion with rice and napa cabbage. While I haven’t served this dish with a classic Katsu Curry or Tonkatsu sauce, I created my own version with homemade sweet chili sauce because I love this combination so much!

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Sweet and sour tonkatsu chili sauce

The traditional tonkatsu sauce is basically a Japanese-style BBQ sauce for roasted or grilled meat. The main ingredients are ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and other spices such as garlic and chili. It tastes sour, salty, and sweet at the same time – so pure umami flavor!

Since Worcestershire sauce often contains fish sauce and is therefore not vegan, I recommend checking the list of ingredients when buying it. Alternatively, you could also skip it and use a little more soy sauce or tamari. Instead of ketchup, I prefer to use my homemade sweet chili sauce, because it gives the dip more spicy flavor. So even though my Tofu Katsu is probably not served exactly the same way as the traditional original recipe from Japan, it is absolutely delicious with 100% flavor!

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How to make Tofu Katsu (Easy Vegan Steak)

Step 1: Slice tofu and press dry

First, cut the tofu into 3 slices. Then wrap it in paper towels (or in a clean tea towel) to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. I highly recommend watching the recipe video to see how to make it.

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Step 2: Bread the tofu

To make the tofu breading, you need 2 shallow bowls. In one bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the flour mixture (soy milk, flour, cornstarch, paprika powder, and salt). Place the Panko breadcrumbs in the other bowl.

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First, dip the tofu slices into the flour mixture and then roll them in the Panko breadcrumbs, until they’re evenly coated. Then place the Tofu Katsu Steaks on a plate.

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Step 3: Fry the Tofu Katsu & prepare side dishes

Now heat some oil in a large pan and fry the breaded tofu schnitzel for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Meanwhile, you can cook the rice, chop the napa cabbage, and mix all the ingredients for the sauce.

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Step 4: Serve & enjoy your meal!

Once everything is ready, slice your crispy Tofu Katsu Schnitzel so it’s easier to eat with chopsticks. Then place it over rice and shredded napa cabbage and drizzle the sweet and sour chili sauce over it. Sprinkle fresh spring onions and some sesame seeds over your Asian dish and drizzle with a splash of lime juice. Enjoy your dish!

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This Vegan Japanese Tofu Katsu recipe is:

  • Meat-less
  • Egg-less
  • Dairy-free (lactose-free)
  • Cholesterol-free
  • Easy to make
  • Delicious
  • Crispy
  • Flavorful
  • Sweet-sour
  • Tastes like in a Chinese restaurant
  • Perfect for lunch or dinner!
  • Better than takeout!

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More Vegan Asian, Chinese, Japanese, or Thai Recipes to try:

  • Yaki Onigiri (Crispy Japanese Rice Balls)
  • General Tso’s Tofu with Sweet-Sour Sauce
  • Asian Chili Garlic Noodles
  • Crispy Sesame Tofu with Tahini Peanut Sauce
  • Vegan Sushi (Easy Recipe)
  • Korean Bibimbap with crispy Tofu
  • Vegan Pad Thai with Veggie Noodles and Tofu
  • Chinese Eggplant with Chili Garlic Sauce
  • Vegan dumplings with vegetable filling
  • Scallion Pancakes (Chinese flatbread)
  • Asian Peanut Noodles with Crispy Tofu

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If you try this easy tofu katsu recipe, feel free to leave a comment and review how you liked it! And if you take a picture of your crispy crusted tofu steak and share it on Instagram, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka, because I love seeing your remakes! Have fun cooking!

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Tofu Katsu with spicy sweet-sour Sauce

Author: Bianca Zapatka

This Japanese Tofu Katsu recipe is vegan and tastes as delicious as the popular breaded crispy sweet and sour chicken schnitzel from your favorite Asian restaurant! Serve it with sweet chili sauce or tonkatsu sauce over rice and napa cabbage for a satisfying lunch or dinner that’s better than takeout!

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Print Pin Review

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Lunch & Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 3 Schnitzel

Calories 287 kcal

Ingredients

Tofu

  • 1 (300 g) block firm tofu 10.5 oz
  • oil for frying

Flour mixture

  • cup (80 ml) soy milk or other non-dairy milk
  • cup (40 g) all-purpose flour or sub gluten-free flour
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp paprika powder
  • tsp salt

Breadcrumb coating

  • 3.5 oz (100 g) panko breadcrumbs or other (gluten-free) breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes

Sauce

  • 4 tbsp sweet chili sauce or ketchup + garlic & chili to taste
  • 2 tbsp strained tomatoes
  • 1-2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
  • ½ tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce optional

For serving (optional)

  • rice
  • napa cabbage
  • spring onions finely sliced, to garnish
  • sesame for garnish
  • fresh limes

Instructions

*Note: Make sure to watch the recipe video + check out the step-by-step photos above!

  • First, cut the tofu into 3 slices. Then wrap it in paper towels (or in a clean tea towel) and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. It is best to place a heavy pan or another heavy object on top of it and set aside for about ½ hour until the tofu looks very dry.

  • Now take 2 shallow bowls. In one bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the flour mixture (soy milk, flour, corn starch, paprika powder, and salt). Place the Panko breadcrumbs into the other bowl.

  • Dip the tofu slices into the flour mixture first, then roll them in the Panko breadcrumbs and finally place them on a plate.

  • Heat some oil in a large pan and fry the breaded tofu slices for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.

  • Meanwhile, cook the rice, chop the napa cabbage and stir together all the ingredients for the sauce.

  • Cut the crispy tofu katsu into slices and serve it over rice and napa cabbage with the sauce. Sprinkle with fresh spring onions and sesame seeds as desired. Drizzle a splash of lime juice over your meal and enjoy it!

Notes

  • For a low-fat option, you can also bake the Tofu Katsu (see Tofu Nuggets recipe).
  • Nutrition facts are just calculated without side dishes and sauce.
  • More information about this recipe can be found in the blog post above.

Nutritions

Serving: 1Schnitzel | Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 777mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as estimate.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @biancazapatka or tag #biancazapatka!

IF YOU HAVE PINTEREST, YOU CAN FIND ME HERE AND PIN THE FOLLOWING PICTURE, IF YOU LIKE! 🙂

Tofu Katsu Recipe (Japanese Vegan Steak) (20)

©Bianca Zapatka | All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use myimages without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please link back to this post for the recipe. More info here. Thank youfor supporting biancazapatka.com!

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Tofu Katsu Recipe (Japanese Vegan Steak) (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan Katsu made from? ›

Ingredients for Vegan Tofu Katsu
  • Tofu. Firm or extra-firm tofu works best in this recipe. ...
  • Flour. Just a little, to dredge our tofu.
  • Panko breadcrumbs. These Japanese breadcrumbs are known for their light, airy texture. ...
  • Cornstarch. ...
  • Oil.
May 28, 2024

Is tonkatsu sauce vegetarian? ›

Whilst the Tonkatsu dish is generally pork-based, the sauce itself is usually vegan-friendly. That's to say that all its ingredients are plant-based, unless any oyster sauce is used, which would make it non-vegan.

How is tofu cooked in Japan? ›

Popular tofu dishes

Pour a little bit of soy sauce over the tofu if it did not come already seasoned. Yudofu are tofu pieces boiled in a clear, mild soup and dipped into soy sauce or ponzu (lemon-flavored soy sauce) before being eaten. Yudofu is a Kyoto specialty and commonly served during the colder seasons.

What meat is tofu? ›

Tofu is vegetarian because it is derived from soy proteins. These proteins are made from pressed soybean curds in a process similar to cheesemaking. This also means that, because only plant-based products are used in its creation, tofu is vegan.

How healthy is katsu? ›

The curry is a sauce that tends to be milder in flavor than other curries. Unfortunately, katsu curry can be high in calories and not very healthy for you. Curries, in general, tend to be more fattening than people expect. If you're looking for a way to make your favorite dish waistline-friendly, look no further.

What is Japanese vegan food called? ›

For more inspiring Japanese cuisine, there are a few dishes you can try, such as vegetable tempura, tsukemono (pickled vegetables), tofu and tofu skin, nasu dengaku (miso-marinated grilled eggplant), zaru soba (boiled and chilled buckwheat noodles), kappa maki (seaweed sushi rolls with cucumber), takuan maki (daikon ...

Is Japanese Worcestershire sauce vegan? ›

Is Japanese Worcestershire sauce vegan? Some sauces may contain fish extract. It differs depending on the brand and type of sauce, so always check the ingredients.

Is Japanese soy sauce vegan? ›

As mentioned above, the main ingredients of soy sauce are soybeans, wheat, salt, and water making it vegan. However, some brands may have other ingredients like sweeteners, preservatives, and flavor enhancers - these may or may not be vegan-friendly.

What is a substitute for tonkatsu sauce? ›

Tonkatsu sauce is a Japanese version of Worcestershire sauce that is thicker, similar to brown sauce. Although the sauce is typically pretty complex, a nice simple way to make it at home is to simply mix Worcestershire sauce with ketchup along with some soy sauce.

Why boil tofu before frying? ›

“Simmering cubed tofu in salted water for 60 seconds pulls out excess moisture and tightens the proteins on its surface,” Lukas Volger told Bon Appétit in 2021.

How much tofu do Japanese eat per day? ›

While most eat one to one-half servings per day, other surveys show “the upper range among older Japanese – who would be expected to eat a more traditional diet – is about three servings,” blogs dietitian Ginny Kisch Messina at www.theveganrd.com.

What is the difference between Japanese tofu and tofu? ›

Firm tofu, the most common, has the same consistency as feta, while the texture of super-firm can be compared to that of meat. You should be able to guess the textures in between. Silken tofu, also known as Japanese-style tofu, is silky, creamy and has the highest water content.

Is tofu healthier than steak? ›

Lean beef (defined by government guidelines as having less than 10 grams total fat, 4.5 grams or less saturated fat and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3.5 ounces) can be healthier than chicken, fish - or tofu (bean curd) for that matter - depending on how much is eaten and how it's prepared.

Can tofu fully replace meat? ›

Tofu is rich in nutrients, contains all essential amino acids and is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Its adaptability allows for use in diverse dishes, whether as a meat substitute in vegetarian meals, blended into smoothies, or grilled, baked or stir-fried for added protein in a range of recipes.

Is tofu 100% vegan? ›

Vegan dieters should always read food labels to be safe, but most tofu products are 100% vegan, with very few exceptions. If you want to reap the biggest health benefits of this tasty superfood, opt for organic and sprouted tofu versions, available at most grocery stores.

What is katsu usually made of? ›

Katsu, a popular Japanese comfort food of breaded cutlets, is commonly made with chicken or pork. For this chicken version, boneless chicken breasts are pounded thin, dredged in flour, egg and panko, then fried until golden brown for an irresistible crispy crust that yields to — and protects — juicy meat inside.

What is a katsu sandwich made of? ›

The construction of the sandwich is simple: A fried pork or chicken cutlet, finely sliced green cabbage, tonkatsu sauce, kewpie mayonnaise (sometimes), all neatly packed between two pillowy slices of Japanese milk bread.

What does katsu sauce contain? ›

This sauce is the traditional Japanese accompaniment for tonkatsu — Japanese-style breaded pork cutlets. It's made from a specially balanced blend of applesauce, onion, tomato paste, carrots and traditionally brewed Kikkoman® Soy Sauce that adds flavor to meat and poultry.

What is a katsu burger made of? ›

Katsu is one of Japan's favorite Western-style foods. It's a crispy fried cutlet of meat or seafood made with flaky Japanese panko breadcrumbs. Similar to a German schnitzel, katsu was invented in 1899 by a Tokyo restaurant that wanted to offer a European-style meat cutlet.

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