Wasabi and panko-crusted pork chops with gingered soy sauce

This is one of the recipes that has made it into our "repeat" cookbook.  The chops are tender and delicious, and the sauce, although it should be doubled, is wonderful.  Not for the picky eater, I think, as the wasabi and ginger flavors are quite prevalent.  But if your kiddos are open-minded at dinner, give it a try!  I did season (very lightly) the chops with salt and pepper first.  I think it'd be safe to just season with pepper though, as the wasabi and salt together might be a bit much.

Wasabi and Panko-Crusted Pork with Gingered Soy Sauce

Panko are coarse white breadcrumbs used in this quick and easy interpretation of the Japanese dish tonkatsu. Look for panko and wasabi paste in the ethnic-foods section of the supermarket. Substitute chicken broth if you don't have sake or sherry on hand. Serve with rice and steamed snow peas and carrots for a complete meal.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop and about 1 tablespoon sauce)


2/3 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)

1 teaspoon peanut oil

Cooking spray

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon bottled ground fresh ginger (such as Spice World)

1/3 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons sake or dry sherry

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon wasabi paste

1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
Place panko in a shallow dish. Place egg white in another shallow dish. Dip pork in egg white; dredge in panko.

Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat; add pork. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until done. Remove pork from pan; sprinkle with salt.

Reduce heat to medium. Add ginger to pan; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Combine broth and the next 4 ingredients (through wasabi) in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add broth mixture to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in green onions. Spoon sauce over pork.
CALORIES 215 (28% from fat); FAT 6.8g (sat 2.1g,mono 2.9g,poly 0.8g); IRON 1.1mg; CHOLESTEROL 65mg; CALCIUM 15mg; CARBOHYDRATE 10.8g; SODIUM 454mg; PROTEIN 24.5g; FIBER 0.9g