Chicken Yakitori
Yakitori is a traditional Japanese dish of bite-sized chicken pieces skewered and grilled over charcoal. It can be seasoned with either salt (shio) or a savory-sweet soy-based sauce (tare) to enhance the smoky flavor. Commonly served in izakayas and street stalls, yakitori offers a variety of cuts and vegetables that are perfect to make for a special occasion or just for a weeknight dinner. Visit groovyfoodiess.com for more of Sarah's recipes!
Tasty Team
Total Time
40 minutes
40 min
Prep Time
10 minutes
10 min
Cook Time
30 minutes
30 min
Total Time
40 minutes
40 min
Prep Time
10 minutes
10 min
Cook Time
30 minutes
30 min
Ingredients
for 6 servings
Skewers:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into 1-inch pieces
- 8 scallions (or green onions)s, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
Tare Sauce:
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
- 2 tablespoons sake
- 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
Nutrition Info
- Calories 164
- Fat 6g
- Carbs 7g
- Fiber 2g
- Sugar 3g
- Protein 20g
Estimated values based on one serving size.
Preparation
- Make the skewers: Carefully thread the chicken and scallion pieces onto 20 bamboo or wooden skewers (if using bamboo, soak in water for 15 minutes first) in order of chicken-scallion-chicken-scallion until all the chicken and scallions are used. Sprinkle the salt evenly all over the chicken. Set aside.
- Make the tare sauce: Stir together the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar in a bowl (or shake in a sealed jar). Pour the mixture into a small pot, and cook over medium-high, stirring often, for about 20 minutes, or until the mixture has reduced to one-half or one-third, depending on your taste preferences.
- Preheat a grill to 400°F (200°C). Place the skewers on oiled grates, and grill, uncovered, 6–8 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, flipping the skewers every 2 minutes. After 4 minutes of grill time, brush the tare sauce over the skewers on both sides. (Alternatively, to broil your skewers: Preheat the oven to broil with the rack 5 or 6 inches from the heat source. Broil the skewers for about 3 minutes each side, or until cooked through, brushing with the tare sauce halfway through.) Serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
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