Tofu Katsu Don (Vegetarian Cutlet Rice Bowl)

5 from 3 votes
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Tofu Katsu Don is a meat-free twist on the classic Japanese katsu don. Crispy tofu katsu is simmered in a flavorful sauce and served over rice—delicious and vegetarian-friendly!

Looking for easy donburi dishes? Try my Tofu Donburi, Egg and Tofu Rice Bowl, or Tamago Don!

Tofu katsu don served on a bowl.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Crispy tofu, savory broth, and fluffy rice—super satisfying and all vegetarian.
  • Simple ingredients, big flavor. Tofu has never tasted this good!
  • Kid-friendly, adult-approved—perfect for the whole family.

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Tofu Katsu Don recipe:

Tofu katsu don ingredients.
  • RiceJapanese steamed rice is the best choice for authentic flavor.
  • Tofu – Firm or extra firm tofu works best instead of soft tofu, as it holds its shape well during the breading and frying.
  • Egg, flour, and panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) for the breading. Use plain flour like all-purpose, cake, bread, or rice flour.
  • Mirin, Soy sauce, and dashi stock for the soup. Dashi, a traditional soup stock in Japanese cooking, is the key ingredient for the seasoning. (find more in What is dashi). I use kombu dashi powder (vegan dashi) in this recipe.

How To Make Tofu Katsu Don: STEP BY STEP 

Here are some quick visual instructions! For the video and all the detailed ingredients and instructions, go to the printable recipe card below.

How to make tofu katsu don.

Step 1

Press the block of tofu and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.

How to make tofu katsu don.

Step 2

Coat each tofu with flour, beaten egg, and panko.

How to make tofu katsu don.

Step 3

Deep fry the breaded tofu.

How to make tofu katsu don.

Step 4

While deep-frying the tofu, simmer onion until tender.

How to make tofu katsu don.

Step 5

Place the tofu katsu into the pan and pour the beaten egg.

How to make tofu katsu don.

Step 6

Cover and cook over low heat.

Tofu katsu don served on a bowl.

Serve the tofu katsu pieces on top of rice, and generously pour the savory sauce over. Your delicious Tofu Katsu Don is now ready to savor!

Recipe Tips

  • Ensure you press the tofu well before breading to remove excess moisture. This step helps achieve a crispier texture.
  • If you prefer to cut down on oil, bake the breaded tofu in the oven or use an air fryer until golden brown instead of deep-frying.
  • Avoid touching the beaten eggs after pouring. If you disturb them, they might mix with the soup and won’t set properly.

Your Questions Answered

What can I serve with this tofu katsu don?

This katsudon recipe is excellent served with miso soup, vegetable side dishes, and pickles.

What happens if you don’t drain tofu before cooking?

Tofu is mostly water. When you cook it, that water comes out, and the tofu can get mushy. Pressing the tofu before cooking helps prevent this.

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Tofu katsu don served on a bowl.

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Tofu katsu don served on a serving bowl.

Tofu Katsu Don (Japanese Vegetarian Cutlet Rice Bowl)

5 from 3 votes
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Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Juri Austin
Tofu Katsu Don is a meat-free twist on the classic Japanese katsu don. Crispy tofu katsu is simmered in a flavorful sauce and served over rice—delicious and vegetarian-friendly!

Equipment

  • 1 Frying pan

Ingredients

For The Tofu Katsu

For Simmering

Instructions

For The Tofu Katsu

  • Press and Prep the Tofu: Remove excess water by pressing firm tofu. Cut into rectangles and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bread the Tofu: Set up shallow bowls with flour, beaten egg, and panko breadcrumbs. Dredge tofu in flour, dip in egg, coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs, pressing gently.
  • Deep fry the Tofu: Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the breaded tofu until golden brown and crispy on all sides. Place them on a wire rack or paper towel to remove excess oil.

For The Simmering

  • Prepare the Ingredients: Thinly slice the onion and beat the eggs. Cut the tofu katsu into bite-sized pieces.
  • Simmer the Ingredients: In a frying pan, combine sliced onions, mirin, soy sauce, dashi powder, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes until the onions become tender.
  • Add Tofu Katsu: Place the cut tofu katsu into the pan and pour the beaten egg over it. Cover the pan and cook for 3 minutes over low heat until the egg is almost cooked through.

Serve

  • Scoop cooked rice into serving bowls, place the tofu katsu pieces on top of the rice, and pour the soup over.

Video

Notes

  • Storage: Place any tofu katsu with egg in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Consume within 2-3 days for the best quality. When ready to enjoy, reheat in the microwave and serve it over a warm bowl of rice.
  • Please make sure you press the tofu well before breading to remove excess moisture. This step helps achieve a crispier texture.
  • If you prefer to cut down on oil, bake the breaded tofu in the oven or use an air fryer until golden brown instead of deep-frying.
  • Avoid touching the beaten eggs after pouring for a soft, fluffy texture. If you disturb them, they might mix with the soup and won’t set properly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 769kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 37g
Course: Main
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: tofu katsu don
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