Kiera Wright-Ruiz

An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.

Everything you love about katsu (the crispy breading, the juicy meat) with a molten, cheesy center.