Sesame-Crusted Pork Cutlets with Crispy Shallots

1. Stage

Make the dressing: In a blender, blend the water, vinegar, miso, soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, olive oil and sesame oil until smooth and creamy. Set aside until you are ready to plate the cutlets.

2. Stage

Make the crispy shallots: Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, slice the shallots into very thin rings. Separate the rings with your fingers and press them between paper towels to extract as much moisture as you can before frying. In a small (8-inch) skillet combine the oil and shallots. Place over medium heat and cook, watching carefully. The shallots will begin to bubble as they cook. Stir often, turning down the heat as necessary to keep the shallots from burning. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until golden brown and most of the bubbling has stopped. With a slotted spoon, transfer the shallots to paper towels to drain. Strain the oil through a fine meshed sieve to catch any small bits of shallot and set aside to for cooking the cutlets. (Any leftover oil from this recipe can be saved for other recipes.)

3. Stage

Butterfly and pound the pork chops (if necessary, skip if using cutlets): If using thick boneless pork chops instead of packaged thin cutlets, butterfly and pound the chops flat (or ask the butcher to do it for you). To butterfly, make a deep, horizontal cut in each pork chop, stopping about 1/4 inch from the edge. Open the chop like a book. To pound, place each butterflied chop between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Set on a baking sheet.

4. Stage

Set up an assembly line for coating the cutlets: Crack the eggs into a pie pan or shallow bowl, and whisk vigorously. In a second pie pan or bowl, combine the panko, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. From right to left on the counter, set the baking sheet of cutlets, bowl of beaten egg, and bowl of panko mixture in a line.

5. Stage

Coat the cutlets: With tongs, dip one cutlet into the beaten eggs and lift it up so the excess falls back into the bowl. Transfer it to the bowl of panko and coat both sides. Return it to the baking sheet. Continue with the remaining cutlets until they are all coated.

6. Stage

Cook the cutlets in batches: Over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, heat about 1/4 inch of the reserved vegetable oil until hot. Place a clean sheet pan in the oven and heat the oven to 250oF. Add 2 or more cutlets to the pan in a single layer (leave room between them so they are not crowded.) Cook for 4 minutes, or until golden on the underside. Turn and cook on the other side for 4 minutes, or until golden. Transfer to the oven to keep warm while you finish cooking all the cutlets and dress the spinach.

7. Stage

Assemble the cutlets and spinach: Toss the spinach with a tablespoon or two of dressing, to taste. Divide between plates. Cut the chops in half if they are large, and set one on top of each plate of the spinach. Sprinkle with the crispy shallots and drizzle a little of the leftover dressing on each plate. (Any remaining dressing can be kept refrigerated for a week or so.)