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Crispy Sesame Chicken Cutlets with Miso-Kewpie Sauce and Shaved Radish Fennel Salad

Crispy sesame-crusted chicken cutlets with a creamy miso-kewpie dipping sauce and a bright shaved radish and fennel salad. A weeknight dinner that feels special.

Ingredients

Sesame Chicken Cutlets

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each), pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup white sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado or grapeseed), plus more as needed
  • Flaky sea salt
  • Steamed rice, for serving

Miso-Kewpie Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons kewpie mayo
  • 1 tablespoon white (shiro) miso
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1-2 tablespoons warm water, to thin

Shaved Radish and Fennel Salad

  • 6 radishes, thinly sliced into rounds
  • 1/2 small fennel bulb, shaved thin, fronds reserved
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon flaky salt
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Start your rice in a rice cooker.
  2. Season the pounded cutlets on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Let them rest for 10 minutes while you prepare your sauce, salad, and dredging station.
  3. Whisk together the kewpie mayo, miso, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey. Add warm water a teaspoon at a time until the sauce is pourable but still has body. Taste and adjust: more miso for depth, more vinegar for brightness.
  4. Combine the radishes and shaved fennel in a bowl. Whisk together the olive oil, rice vinegar, and honey and pour over the vegetables. Toss gently, season with flaky salt and pepper, and scatter the fennel fronds over the top.
  5. Whisk the eggs and soy sauce together in a small quarter sheet pan or low bowl. In a second quarter sheet pan or low bowl, mix the panko and sesame seeds until evenly combined.
  6. Dip each cutlet in the egg wash, letting the excess drip off, then press firmly into the sesame-panko mixture on both sides. The coating should feel dry and well-adhered before it goes near the pan. Transfer prepared cutlets to a wire rack.
  7. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Working in batches, add the cutlets without crowding and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, without moving, until the crust is deep amber and the internal temperature reads 165°F. The sesame seeds will be fragrant and toasted. Transfer to a wire rack, sprinkle immediately with flaky sea salt, and rest for 5 minutes.
  8. Spoon the rice onto each plate with a cutlet. Pile the radish and fennel salad alongside. Serve with dipping sauce on the side or drizzled over everything.

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