Description
Chicken Yakitori is a classic Japanese street food featuring juicy grilled chicken skewers glazed in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish, these skewers are simple, flavorful, and best served hot off the grill with a sprinkle of green onions or sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 8–10 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
- ¼ cup sake
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Garnish (optional)
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Let it simmer gently for 8–10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Skewer the chicken: Thread the cut chicken thigh pieces onto the soaked bamboo skewers ensuring they are evenly spaced for uniform cooking.
- Preheat the grill: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat until hot and ready for cooking.
- Grill the chicken skewers: Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 3–4 minutes on each side. During the last few minutes, brush the skewers generously with the prepared sauce to glaze the chicken, allowing it to develop a slightly charred, caramelized surface while ensuring the chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve: Remove skewers from the grill and brush with a final coat of sauce. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot, ideally accompanied by steamed rice and grilled vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Chicken thighs are preferred for their tenderness and juiciness, but chicken breasts can be used for a leaner option.
- Soaking bamboo skewers in water prevents them from burning on the grill.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
- Serve with steamed rice and grilled vegetables to make a balanced meal.
