Crispy Pan-Fried Chicken Cutlets with Tonkatsu Sauce

INGREDIENTS

CUTLETS:
2 cups, panko
2 large, eggs
salt
4 6-8 ounce, chicken breasts – trimmed, halved horizontally and pounded 1/4 inch thick
1/2 cup, extra virgin olive oil
TONKATSU SAUCE:
1/4 cup, ketchup
2 tablespoons, worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons, soy sauce
2 teaspoons, yellow mustard

METHOD

FOR CUTLETS:

1. Place panko in large zipper-lock bag and lightly crush with rolling pin. Transfer to shallow dish. Whisk eggs and 1 teaspoon salt in second shallow dish until well combined.
2. Working with 1 cutlet at a time, dredge cutlets in egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then coat all sides with panko, pressing gently so crumbs adhere. Transfer cutlets to rimmed baking sheet.
3. Set wire rack in second rimmed baking sheet and line rack with paper towels. Heat 1/4 cup oil and small pinch panko in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When panko has turned golden brown, place 4 cutlets in skillet. Cook, without moving cutlets, until bottoms are deep golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, carefully flip cutlets and cook on second side until deep golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer cutlets to prepared rack and season with salt to taste. Wipe skillet clean with paper towels. Repeat with remaining 1/4 cup oil and remaining 4 cutlets. Serve immediately.

FOR TONKATSU SAUCE:

1. Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl

Be sure to remove any tenderloins from the breasts before halving them; reserve them for another use. The breasts will be easier to slice into cutlets if you chill them in the freezer for about 15 minutes. If you are working with 8-ounce breasts, the skillet will initially be crowded; the cutlets will shrink slightly as they cook. The first batch of cutlets can be kept warm in a 200-degree oven while you cook the second batch.