[Fukushima Prefecture] Did you know that there are actually 3 types of Fukushima's local gourmet "sauce katsudon"?

Did you know that there is a local gourmet dish in Fukushima Prefecture "Sauce Katsudon" This is a local gourmet dish that has the strongest combination of sweet and spicy sauce and tonkatsu, and the shredded cabbage in between, and the rice is hearty.

However, Fukushima Prefecture has a large area and has a diverse food culture depending on the region. Sauce katsudon is no exception, and there are three types of ``sauce katsudon''.

This time, we will take a deep dive into the circumstances surrounding Fukushima's sauce katsudon.

What is Fukushima sauce katsudon?

What kind of dish is Fukushima sauce katsudon?

When you think of katsudon, most people probably think of pork cutlet simmered in a soy sauce-based sauce, topped with an egg, and placed on rice. When you hear the word ``sauce katsudon'', you may think of tonkatsu topped with a sauce such as Worcestershire sauce or chuno sauce and served with rice.

However, Fukushima sauce katsudon is a little different. Rather than pouring the sauce directly onto the tonkatsu, a sauce based on the sauce flavor is used for cooking. Shredded cabbage is always placed on top of the rice, as if to accommodate the tonkatsu seasoned with a rich sweet and spicy sauce.

In fact, there is a local gourmet dish called "sauce katsudon" not only in Fukushima but all over the country. For example, Fukui Prefecture's Sauce Katsudon is made by coating thin pork with fine breadcrumbs, deep-frying it, then soaking it in Worcestershire sauce and placing it on top of rice. Gunma prefecture's sauce katsudon is made by dipping freshly fried pork fillet pork cutlet into a sauce and placing it on top of rice.

When compared to sauce katsudon from other prefectures, Fukushima's sauce katsudon is unique in that shredded cabbage is placed between the rice and tonkatsu. At first glance, you may think it's a simple difference. However, the fluffy cushion of rice and shredded cabbage means that the seasoning is strong enough to not overpower the taste.

Even within Fukushima's sauce katsudon, there are many different types, each with their own characteristics.

There are actually 3 systems! Fukushima sauce katsudon

There are three types of sauce katsudon, a local gourmet dish in Fukushima prefecture.

• Aizu sauce katsudon
• Aizu Yanaizu Sauce Katsudon
• Shikura sauce katsudon

Except for the most famous Aizu Sauce Katsudon, some people may not know about the other two types even if they live in Fukushima Prefecture. We will introduce the characteristics of each.

Aizu sauce katsudon

The most famous sauce katsudon in Fukushima prefecture is probably Aizu sauce katsudon. It is characterized by dipping the freshly fried pork cutlet in the sauce to coat it in plenty of sauce. The sauce is sweet and rich, but it goes perfectly with the shredded cabbage and rice, so you can enjoy it till the end without feeling too heavy.

Aizuwakamatsu City has a large concentration of restaurants that serve ``Aizu Sauce Katsudon.'' Since it is adjacent to Kitakata town, which is famous for its ramen, it is nice that there are stores where you can enjoy sauce katsudon and Kitakata ramen together.

Another feature of Aizu sauce katsudon is that there are many restaurants that serve it well. In particular, there are many restaurants with large tonkatsu, with some so huge that they protrude from the bowl, and others so thick that they are almost twice as thick as regular tonkatsu. It's irresistible for gluttons.

Even though it's simply Aizu sauce katsudon, each restaurant has its own rich character. Each store has its own fans, and the debate over which store is the favorite becomes heated. It's fun to wander around and find your favorite sauce and katsudon. Please look for the store of your destiny.

For information on restaurants where you can eat Aizu Sauce Katsudon, please refer to the website of the Traditional Aizu Sauce Katsudon Association

Link: Official website of Traditional Aizu Sauce Katsudon Association

Aizu Yanaizu Sauce Katsudon

The characteristic feature of the sauce katsudon from Yanaizu Town, located in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, is that it uses eggs. However, it is different from the nationally famous katsudon, the so-called "katsu no tamago toji."

``Aizu Yanaizu Sauce Katsudon'' is rice topped with shredded cabbage, fluffy omelet, freshly fried pork cutlet, and a sauce-flavored sauce. In other words, it is not bound with an egg.

The pork cutlet is not completely soaked in sauce, so it has a crispy texture. Furthermore, the combination of sweet sauce and fluffy omelette creates a mellow taste in your mouth. This may be especially easy to imagine for those who prefer fried eggs with sauce.

Rice, cabbage, tamagoyaki, pork cutlet, and sauce are all indispensable. The characteristic of Aizu Yanaizu Sauce Katsudon is that each flavor is well-balanced.

Shikura sauce katsudon

The third sauce katsudon is located in Iwaki City, along the Pacific Ocean, far away from the previous two. As a port town, Iniwaki City is famous for its seafood cuisine, but there are also areas where katsudon with sauce is a popular soul food for the city's residents. That the Shikura district .

"Shikura Sauce Katsudon" are that the sauce has sweetness and sourness, and is refreshing. Pork cutlet made from fillet or loin meat and cabbage are served in a bowl, and sauce is poured over it just enough to retain its texture.

Rather than something special, it's a familiar taste with a nostalgic feel. It is essential that the rice goes well with the rich flavor. If you are staying in Iwaki City for several nights, be sure to enjoy the sauce katsudon along with your seafood dishes.

You can make it at home too! Introducing the recipe for Aizu sauce katsudon

Katsudon with sauce is a local delicacy in Fukushima, and you can actually recreate the taste at home. I'd like to try it, but I can't quite get there... In such a case, please use this recipe!

Aizu sauce katsudon recipe

Ingredients (for 2 people)

• 2 pork cutlets
• Cabbage 100g
• 2 servings of rice

(Sauce)

• Chuno sauce 100ml
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon mentsuyu
• 1 tablespoon mirin

How to make

1. Stir the ingredients for the sauce in a pot and bring to a boil over low heat.
2. Shred the cabbage and arrange on top of the rice in a bowl.
3. Dip the tonkatsu cut into bite-sized pieces into the sauce and serve on top of ②.

For example, if you can get tonkatsu as a side dish or frozen food at the supermarket, you can enjoy it very easily. You can also use it as a modified recipe when you feel stuck with your usual tonkatsu. Please feel free to enjoy Fukushima's soul food.

summary

This time we introduced Fukushima's sauce katsudon.

When it comes to sauce katsudon, there are three types within Fukushima prefecture. The sweet and spicy Aizu sauce katsudon with a hearty texture, the mellow taste of the Aizu Yanaizu sauce katsudon, and the refreshing and nostalgic taste of the Shikura sauce katsudon. Each type of katsudon has its own merits, so when you visit Fukushima, be sure to find the sauce katsudon that suits you best.