Description
Japanese Chicken Yakitori is a popular grilled chicken skewer recipe featuring tender pieces of marinated chicken basted in a savory and sweet soy-based sauce. This simple yet flavorful dish captures the essence of traditional Japanese street food, perfect for a quick and delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 5–6 pieces boneless chicken breast or 6–8 pieces boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1–2 inch chunks
Marinade and Sauce
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- Water (amount not specified, estimated 1/4 cup)
- 1 tbsp red apple vinegar or mirin
Others
- 6–7 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 10–20 minutes
- Ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Soak Skewers: Soak wooden skewers in water for 10–20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Prepare Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, water, red apple vinegar (or mirin), and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Marinate Chicken: Cut the chicken into 1–2 inch chunks. Marinate the chicken pieces with minced garlic, minced ginger, ground pepper, and some of the marinade mixture. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Thicken Sauce: Pour the remaining marinade into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat until it thickens into a glaze-like consistency. This sauce will be used for basting.
- Grill Yakitori: Thread the marinated chicken chunks onto the soaked wooden skewers. Grill them over medium-high heat for about 8–12 minutes, turning occasionally and basting frequently with the thickened sauce until the chicken is fully cooked and nicely caramelized.
Notes
- Soaking skewers is essential to prevent them from burning on the grill.
- Use boneless chicken thighs for juicier yakitori or chicken breasts for a leaner option.
- Mirin can be substituted with red apple vinegar with a touch of sugar for a balanced flavor.
- Ensure the marinade sauce is thick enough to stick well to the chicken when basting.
- Serve yakitori hot for the best taste and texture.
