Food for Kids: Easy Chicken Katsu with Yasai Itame Recipe (Stephen John)

If you are worried that your kids may not be getting the right nutrition from those store-brought chicken nuggets, hotdogs, mac 'n' cheese, cereals, and oats, you can try other recipes that will be inviting to a child's picky palate. Putting in a bit of veggies into their meals will create a balanced meal good for your child's health.

Chicken Katsu is a Japanese style fried chicken that is great with rice and some veggies on the side. Many kids enjoy this particular dish because it is easy to eat like chicken nuggets or fillet. Here is an easy recipe for Chicken Katsu with Yasai Itame or stir-fried vegetables that will be different yet healthier and delicious for your kids.

Ingredients:
- 4 pieces or 5 lbs. of skinless chicken breast fillet
- garlic powder
- flour
- 2 eggs
- Japanese breadcrumbs
- oil for frying
- salt and pepper

For the Yasai Itame:
1 sliced medium onion
1 red bell pepper cut into strips
100 grams beansprouts
500 grams Julienned carrots
1 tbsp soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons oil

Cooking Directions:

1. For the Chicken:
- Lightly pound the chicken breast fillet with a mallet to flatten. Cover the chicken with a plastic wrap while you pound the chicken. Flatten to about 4 x 3 inches.
- Season the chicken on both sides with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Beat 2 eggs in a bowl. Prepare the flour in a separate container. Prepare breadcrumbs in a separate container as well.

- Using a kitchen thong, coat each piece of flattened chicken with flour, dip in eggs, and coat again with breadcrumbs. Make sure that the chicken is fully coated with the breadcrumbs.
- In a frying pan, heat oil and fry each piece of chicken in medium heat until golden brown.

2. For the Yasai Itame:
- In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil. Combine all ingredients and stir-fry until ingredients are soft and tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Finishing Touches: Using a knife, cut the chicken into strips. Serve with steaming hot rice, Yasai Itame, and add store-brought Tonkatsu Sauce or ketchup for some flavoring.

If you prefer other meat like pork or beef, you can simply replace the chicken with the meat of your choice and follow the same steps. Fish is also a healthier choice.

This recipe will only take a couple of minutes of your time and will be even more enjoyable when you include your kids in the preparation. They can help in coating the chicken, setting the table, and mixing some orange juice, iced tea or lemonade that will go well with this meal. As easy as it is to prepare store-brought chicken nuggets, hotdogs, and microwaveable meals, they don't always provide the good nutrition that you child needs. Investing in their health and increasing your presence by cooking a special meal for them will be valuable for you and your family.

Stephen John is a food and wine enthusiast. He blogs about food, wine, and culture and writes wine reviews for a living. For more info and easy recipes, check out cooking videos in http://www.foodplus.tv/video/Exotic.htm.