Step 1

• Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry produce. • Trim, peel, and cut carrots on a diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Peel and mince or grate ginger. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.

Step 2

• Toss carrots on a baking sheet with a large drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack until tender, 20-25 minutes. • Once roasted, carefully toss with sesame seeds.

Step 3

• While carrots roast, heat a drizzle of oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add ginger and scallion whites; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. • Stir in rice and 3/4 cup water (11/4 cups for 4 servings), and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. • Keep covered off heat until ready to serve. Swap in brown rice for jasmine rice; use 13/4 cups water (31/2 cups for 4). Cook for 20-25 minutes. (Reserve jasmine rice for another use.)

Step 4

• Meanwhile, pat pork* dry with paper towels. • Place panko, garlic powder, salt (we used 3/4 tsp; 11/2 tsp for 4 servings), and pepper in a gallon-size zip-close bag. • Place sour cream in a medium bowl; add pork and turn to evenly coat. • Add coated pork to bag with seasoned panko and seal to close. Shake until pork is evenly coated. TIP: You may need to move around cutlets in bag, pressing with your hands, to spread out panko and make it stick.

Step 5

• Heat a 1/4-inch layer of oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Once oil is shimmering and hot enough that a pinch of panko sizzles when added to pan, add coated pork (discard any remaining panko in bag). • Cook until panko is golden brown and pork is cooked through, 2-3 minutes per side. (For 4 servings, cook in batches.) • Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Step 6

• Place katsu sauce in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave until warmed through, 30 seconds. • Fluff rice with a fork; stir in 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) and season with salt and pepper. • Divide rice, pork, and carrots between plates. Drizzle pork with katsu sauce. Sprinkle with scallion greens and serve.