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Wagyu Beef Katsu Sando
Wagyu steak is breaded in panko and fried hot and fast so the crust turns deep gold while the center stays rosy pink, then pressed between crustless milk bread with tangy katsu sauce and a touch of hot mustard. Rich, soft and crunchy at once, this is a sandwich for a special night in.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Serves
- 2
- Level
- Hard
- Cuisine
- Japanese
Method
Step 1: Take the steaks out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and pat them very dry. Meanwhile, whisk the ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce and sugar until the sugar dissolves to make the katsu sauce.
Step 2: Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Set up three shallow dishes: the flour, the egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water, and the panko. Dredge each steak in flour, dip in egg, then press firmly into panko on all sides, including the edges.
Step 3: Chill the breaded steaks on a rack for 10 minutes so the coating sets. Heat 2 inches of oil in a heavy pot to 375F.
Step 4: Fry one steak at a time for 60 to 90 seconds per side, until the panko is deep golden and an instant-read thermometer in the center reads 120F to 125F for rare. Transfer to a wire rack and rest for 5 minutes.
Step 5: While the steaks rest, lightly butter one side of each bread slice and spread a thin layer of hot mustard over the butter on 2 of them.
Step 6: Brush both sides of each cutlet with katsu sauce and set it on a mustard slice. Top with the remaining bread, buttered side down, and press gently with your palm for 30 seconds.
Step 7: Trim away the crusts, then cut each sandwich in half with a sharp serrated knife in one smooth stroke. Sprinkle the exposed meat with flaky salt, lay a nori strip across the top and serve immediately.
Kitchen note
The 5-minute rest does two jobs: residual heat carries the center from blood-red to rosy, and the juices settle so they soak into the bread gradually instead of flooding it.
Easy swap
A well-marbled ribeye or New York strip works nearly as well and costs a fraction of wagyu.

