Spicy Fried Chicken Katsu Toasted Sesame Steamed Buns

By
MacKenzie Smith
MacKenzie Smith
Recipe developer, food stylist, author, and teacher with a passion for sandwiches. She's behind the popular blog Grilled Cheese Social.
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Updated on 06/30/21
Chicken katsu steamed buns with pickles, cilantro and chili paste
Grilled Cheese Social
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 3 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
641 Calories
18g Fat
69g Carbs
49g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3
Amount per serving
Calories 641
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 186mg 62%
Sodium 1583mg 69%
Total Carbohydrate 69g 25%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 49g
Vitamin C 3mg 16%
Calcium 218mg 17%
Iron 6mg 34%
Potassium 583mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

With a kick from sambal, a spicy Asian vinegary hot sauce paste, a hint of tartness from quick pickled cucumbers, and a pop of herbal freshness from cilantro, this chicken katsu steamed bun recipe results in one heck of a spicy chicken sandwich. 

Oh, and FYI, we've written this recipe as if you've got frozen steamed buns on hand. However, if you'd like to dare to make them yourself, we recommend following this recipe from Epicurious.

Ingredients

  • 3 frozen steamed buns

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

  • 1 tablespoon sambal

  • 6 quick pickles

  • 2 to 3 sprigs cilantro

  • 1 breast chicken katsu

For the Chicken Katsu (Fried Chicken)

  • 1 chicken breast

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • Salt, to taste

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs

  • 1 large egg, whisked

Steps to Make It

  1. Prepare chicken katsu. Cut chicken breast into 3 pieces. Toss each piece with cornstarch, salt, and pepper.

  2. Heat oil to 370 F in a small frying pan.

  3. Douse the chicken nuggets in flour, then the egg wash, then the panko, and lastly into the fryer for a few minutes until chicken is cooked through and crispy. Set aside.

  4. Steam the frozen buns until ready while melting butter in a small shallow skillet.

  5. Once the butter has melted, and add steamed buns and allow them to brown for a little under a minute, and remove from heat. As they're still wet looking from the butter, pat on the sesame seeds and set aside. 

  6. Assemble the sandwiches by evenly distributing the sambal, the fried chicken, the cilantro and the cucumbers onto the 3 sesame steamed buns. Serve immediately.