What inspired the Beef Katsu Cheeseburger? Well, the food scene on Oahu is like no other. Fantastic food can be found from food trucks tucked into sidestreets and alleys to boutique restaurants from Waikiki to the North Shore.
One of the most popular food items found on Oahu, and the other islands as well, are Hawaiian plate lunches. Hawaiian plate lunches consist of two scoops of rice, Hawaiian mac salad, and some type of proteint. When I enjoy a Hawaiian plate lunnch, my favorite is chicken katsu.
Chicken katsu was my inspiration for the Beef Katsu Cheeseburger. This island-inspired burger consists of a beef patty coated with panko bread crumbs, deep-fried to perfection and topped with havarti cheese, a tangy garlic/ginger katsu sauce, a crunchy and creamy cabbage slaw, all wrapped up in a soft and tender brioche burger bun.
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Looking for more? See the recommended kitchen gear from Cheeseburger Guru.
Beef Katsu Patties
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup flour
- 1 pkg Panko bread crumbs
- Salt
- pepper
- Oil for frying
Katsu Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mirin or dry white wine
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground ginger
- 1 clove minced garlic
Slaw
- Thinly sliced green cabbage
- Rice vinegar - seasoned
- Sesame oil
- Mayonnaise
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Msg
Other Necessities
- Hamburger buns or brioche rolls
- Havarti cheese
- Oil for frying
To start making your Beef Katsu Cheeseburger, portion the ground beef into patties. Arrange the patties on a wire rack/baking sheet and place in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
Prepare the dredging station by combining the salt, pepper and flour in a shallow pan. Thoroughly mix the eggs and place them in a second shallow pan. In a third shallow pan, add the panko bread crumbs.
Make the Katsu sauce by combining the ketchup, soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, Worcestershire, ginger, and minced garlic. Set aside.
Thinly slice the cabbage and place in a bowl. In another bowl make the cabbage dressing by whisking together the seasoned rice vinegar, sesame oil, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and MSG. Test for seasonings. Pour the dressing over the sliced cabbage and mix to combine.
Remove the chilled beef patties from the freezer. The patties should be firm but not fully frozen.
Taking one patty at a time, coat the patty with flour and shake off any excess. Place the floured patty into the beaten eggs. Coat the patties thoroughly with the eggs.
Remove the patty from the eggs and allow to drain. Then, place the patty in the panko bread crumbs and coat thoroughly; making sure that the patty is fully-covered with bread crumbs. Set on a wire rack.
Repeat with remaining patties.
Place the patties back into the freezer to chill, about 10 minutes.
In a skillet, bring one inch of oil up to 350F. Remove the patties from the freezer. One at a time, place a breaded beef patty into the oil. Cook on one side until golden brown. Turn the patty over and cook the second side until golden brown. Remove the cooked patty from the skillet and place on a wire rack to drain. Immediately, season with salt and pepper and top with a slice of cheese.
Butter the inside of the hamburger buns. Place the buns butter side down into a skillet and toast until golden brown. Flip the buns over and toast the outside of the bun. When finished toasting, remove them from the skillet.
Assemble the Beef Katsu Cheeseburger by placing the bottom bun on a plate. Cover the bottom bun with a portion of the Katsu sauce. Place the fried beef patty and cheese on the bottom bun.
Place a generous portion of the cabbage slaw on top of the cheeseburger patty.
Drizzle with additional Katsu sauce. Crown with the top bun.
Serve this Hawaiian Island-Inspired Beef Katsu Cheeseburger with a side of Hawaiian Mac Salad.
Aloha!
