What is Tonkatsu Sauce?
Tonkatsu sauce is traditionally served with tonkatsu; a breaded and deep fried pork cutlet. The sauce is thick, reddish brown and tastes both sweet and tangy and is deeply umami. The sauce is traditionally made with specific fruits and vegetables, although an easier version is made with ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce and sweetener.
What does Tonkatsu Sauce Taste Like?
...Sweet is one of the five main tastes. It has smooth and round notes in its flavor profile. Sweet is a naturally occurring flavor in many foods, including fruits, berries, winter squashes, sugarcane, and honey. The sweet taste in these foods is due to a higher sugar content. Sweetness is characteristic of desserts and is used as an accent in savory foods.
...Umami is one of five main tastes. It is savory with a depth of flavor. Umami is a taste in many foods, including meat, seafood, beans, and nuts. It is both naturally occurring and created through the specific use of ingredients to create a satisfying taste. Umami is characteristic of proteins and savory dishes.
Ingredients
...Ketchup has had a slow evolution towards the tomato based condiment we know today, and was originally a Chinese fish sauce. Tomato ketchup has a thick but squeezable consistency, that spreads and mixes effortlessly. The color of this tomato, vinegar, and sugar based sauce is red. The flavor is sweet, tart and umami. Ketchup is a popular American condiment used on french fries, hamburgers, hotdogs and much more.
...Worcestershire sauce is a condiment used primarily in the cooking process and less as a topping. It is a fermented liquid made of vinegar, soy sauce and seasonings. It is dark brown with a thin viscosity. The flavor is savory, salty and umami with a hint of sweetness. It is primarily used with meats.
...Oyster sauce is a Chinese item made from the liquid of cooked oysters. The liquid is mixed with soy sauce, thickeners and additives. The result is a thick and viscous dark brown sauce. High quality oyster sauce is naturally dark, but some brands add caramel color. The flavor of this sauce is rich, salty and robust. A small amount is used to season dishes such as stir fries, meat and stews.
...Sugar comes from sugar cane and sugar beets. The sugar is extracted from the juice of both plants and refined into the granulated substance known as sugar. Sucrose, the sweet substance of sugar is a combination of glucose and fructose. White sugar is composed of tiny white, dry granules. The flavor is sweet and neutral. Brown sugar is brown and has more moisture, with a richer flavor that hints at molasses. Sugar is used in both sweet and savory foods.