Make your own Tonkatsu Sauce to enjoy tonkatsu even more. Even if you don’t have store-bought sauce on hand, you can quickly and easily prepare it at home, and it will taste great.
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What is Tonkatsu Sauce?
Tonkatsu Sauce is a condiment that adds richness and a slight sweetness to tonkatsu. Broadly speaking, it is classified as a type of Worcestershire sauce and is also known for its high viscosity, giving it a thick consistency. In Japan, it is used not only on tonkatsu but also on other fried dishes and as a secret ingredient in various recipes.
Commercially available tonkatsu sauce often contains a variety of vegetables, fruits, and spices, so making it from scratch at home with similar ingredients can be quite challenging. Therefore, in this recipe, I used ground sesame seeds, ketchup, and Japanese Worcestershire sauce as the primary ingredients. This combination results in a flavor similar to that found in Japanese tonkatsu restaurants. I hope you enjoy it.
Making ground sesame seeds
To enhance the flavor of homemade tonkatsu sauce, using ground sesame seeds is essential. These are commonly available in Japan, but how about in your area?
If you can only get raw or toasted sesame seeds, you need to (toast and) grind them. It doesn't take much effort, so follow these steps to make ground sesame seeds. Freshly ground sesame seeds have an exceptional flavor, so even if you already have some, it is worth making them to enjoy a more savory flavor.
Step 1
Put the raw sesame seeds in a pot or pan and toast them over low heat. Shake the pot (or pan) constantly to prevent burning until a few sesame seeds start to pop, which should take 5-10 minutes.
Step 2
Grind the toasted sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle (or a food processor) until they reach a coarse consistency.
When using toasted sesame seeds, you only need to follow step 2. However, if you want to enhance the flavor of the sesame seeds further, toast them over very low heat before step 2, shaking the pot or pan constantly to prevent burning, for about 2 minutes until you smell a savory aroma.
It is best to avoid using non-stick coated pots or pans when toasting them because sesame seeds are so small that heating them in such a pot or pan is almost like heating an empty pot (or pan), which could potentially release harmful chemicals.
Role of the ingredients used
You can make homemade tonkatsu sauce with the following ingredients:
• Japanese Worcestershire sauce
This serves as the base for the sauce. Worcestershire sauce made in Japan features less acidity, while Worcestershire sauce made outside of Japan tends to be more acidic. Since tonkatsu sauce is low in acidity, I recommend using Japanese brands like Kagome or Bulldog.
• Ground sesame seeds
These add a savory flavor. To preserve the texture of the sesame seeds, I recommend using coarsely ground ones.
• Ketchup
It provides thickness and flavor. If you feel the sauce lacks thickness with ketchup alone, you can add some starch dissolved in water to adjust the consistency.
• Sugar
It adds sweetness.
• Soy sauce
It gives richness and depth.
Simply mixing these ingredients will result in a slightly acidic taste. Therefore, by heating the mixture to reduce the acidity, your homemade tonkatsu sauce will be ready.
📋Step-by-step recipe
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp Japanese Worcestershire sauce (such as Kagome or Bull-Dog brand)
- 1 Tbsp ground sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- ½ Tbsp sugar
- ½ Tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
🕒 Total: 3 mins
Step 1
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients (Japanese Worcestershire sauce, ground sesame seeds, ketchup, sugar, and soy sauce) and mix well. Loosely cover the bowl with plastic wrap and microwave on medium power (500W) for 30 seconds.
To Store
You can keep it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Recipe card
Easy Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp Japanese Worcestershire sauce (such as Kagome or Bull-Dog brand)
- 1 Tbsp ground sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- ½ Tbsp sugar
- ½ Tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all the ingredients (Japanese Worcestershire sauce, ground sesame seeds, ketchup, sugar, and soy sauce) and mix well. Loosely cover the bowl with plastic wrap and microwave on medium power (500W) for 30 seconds.
Notes
- You can keep it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to a month.
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