Korokke
These Japanese fried mashed potato patties traditionally filled with meat and vegetables are the perfect little on-the-go meal.
Serves10 to 12
Makes about 13 korokke
Prep30 minutes
Cook45 minutes
When I was growing up in Tokyo, korokke was my favorite addition to my packed lunches when we went off on school trips. The fried mashed potato patties traditionally filled with meat and vegetables are the perfect little on-the-go meal. Korokke is commonly made in egg-sized patties and packed in bento boxes or sold from street vendors.
This recipe utilities a classic combination of peas, carrot, corn, and ground pork, which lends both sweet and savory flavor to the potato filling. Serve these patties with Bull-Dog sauce, more commonly known as tonkatsu sauce. It’s the same sauce used with katsu cutlets.
Although they’re fried, korokke keep perfectly crisp well after cooking and can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature. Play around with different ingredients for the filling, such as chopped green beans or diced bacon. As long as you use the mashed potato base to hold the patties together, the possibilities are endless!
Korokke Recipe
These Japanese fried mashed potato patties traditionally filled with meat and vegetables are the perfect little on-the-go meal.
Prep time 30 minutes
Cook time 45 minutes
Makes about 13 korokke
Serves 10 to 12
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 pound
russet potatoes (about 2 large)
- 1/4 cup
plus 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more as needed
- 1
small yellow onion
- 4
medium scallions
- 1
small carrot
- 2 cups
plus 1 tablespoon vegetable or grapeseed oil, divided, plus more as needed
- 8 ounces
ground pork
- 1/8 teaspoon
ground white pepper, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup
fresh or frozen peas (do not thaw)
- 1 cup
panko breadcrumbs
- 2
large eggs
Tonkatsu sauce, for serving
Instructions
Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with paper towels.
Fill a large stockpot or saucepan with cold water. Add 1 pound russet potatoes and 1/4 cup of the kosher salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until you can poke the potato with a fork or a paring knife and it pierces easily all the way to the center, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, dice 1 small yellow onion (about 1 cup). Thinly slice 4 medium scallions (about 1 cup). Dice 1 small carrot (about 1/2 cup).
Drain the potatoes and let cool while you cook the meat and vegetables.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 8 ounces ground pork and cook, breaking up into small pea-sized crumbles, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt and 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper. Add the onion, scallions, carrot, and 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas. Cook until onion is translucent and the carrots are just tender, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel and discard the skins. Return the peeled potatoes to the pot and mash with a potato masher until there are no more large lumps and the mixture is just smooth.
Add meat and vegetable mixture and mix until well combined. Taste and season with more kosher salt and white pepper as needed. Scoop the mixture into 1/4 cup portions (about 13). Form each into an egg shape patties and place on a baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Place 1 cup panko breadcrumbs in a wide, shallow bowl and season with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Crack 2 large eggs into second shallow bowl, whisk lightly, and season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Working one at a time, dredge a korokke in the eggs until completely coated, then place in the panko and turn until completely coated. Return to the baking sheet.
Fill a medium saucepan with enough vegetable oil to come at least 3 inches up the side (about 2 cups). Heat over medium-high heat until 340 to 360ºF. Meanwhile, line a second baking sheet with paper towels.
Fry the korokke 3 at a time: Add to the hot oil and fry until deep golden-brown all over, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the baking sheet. Serve warm or at room temperature with tonkatsu sauce.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The korokke can be assembled and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before frying.
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.