Hitokuchi Sauce Katsu: Classic Japanese Fish Cutlet Snack
“Katsu (カツ)” is the Japanese word for cutlet, so the food is deep-fried in plenty of oil and is especially characterized by its crispy Panko breadcrumb covering.
The Japanese cutlet, Katsu is usually made with sliced pork, chicken, or beef, and when Japanese hear the word Katsu, many of us bring to mind the one made with pork “Tonkatsu (トンカツ)”.
Hitokuchi Sauce Katsu (ひとくちソースカツ)
In Japan, Katsu is not only served as a main dish at dinner, but it is actually also available in the snack and candy section of supermarkets.
And the cutlet snack is well known to us Japanese by the name of either “Hitokuchi Sauce Katsu (ひとくちソースカツ)” or “Big Katsu (ビッグカツ)”.
The Difference: Hitokuchi Sauce Katsu vs Big Katsu
The contents of the product Hitokuchi Sauce Katsu can be seen in the photo above. Actually, the Japanese cutlet snack is made from not pork but fish paste or Surimi that has been breaded and fried in oil, which is dressed with a kind of Tonkatsu sauce.
As the meaning of the Japanese word “Hitokuchi (ひとくち, 一口) is “mouthful”, the Japanese treat Hitokuchi Sauce Katsu is not big and can literally be eaten in a mouthful.
Meanwhile, Big Katsu is famous as a Dagashi snack. Actually, its composition is basically the same as Hitokuchi Sauce Katsu but the Dagashi is different in size from the latter and literally bigger.
With a pleasant crispy texture to them, both the Japanese treats are savory like a cutlet, not fishy at all.
As for where to buy, since these cutlet snacks have been long-time favorite snacks in Japan, they can be bought in many supermarkets and convenience stores around the country.
