Description
Delicious chicken skewers marinated in a savory yakitori sauce, perfect for grilling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 8–10 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
- Salt, to taste
- Chopped scallions (optional, for garnish)
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup mirin
- ¼ cup sake substitute (use chicken broth + a pinch of sugar)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
Instructions
- Prepare the Tare Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake substitute, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let it cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon. Set aside to cool—it will thicken more as it stands.
- Skewer the Chicken: Thread 4–5 pieces of chicken onto each soaked bamboo skewer. Try to keep the pieces snug but not too tight. This ensures even cooking and easy flipping.
- Preheat and Prep the Grill: You can use an outdoor grill, stovetop grill pan, or broiler. If using a grill, preheat to medium-high. Lightly oil the grates or pan.
- Season and Grill: Sprinkle the chicken skewers lightly with salt. Place them on the grill and cook for 3–4 minutes per side. Begin brushing with the yakitori sauce after the first flip, then continue grilling and basting for another 2–3 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and slightly caramelized on the edges.
- Final Baste and Serve: Once cooked, give the skewers a final brush of sauce and let them rest for a minute. Garnish with chopped scallions if you like. Serve hot, with steamed rice or a side of grilled vegetables.
Notes
- For the yakitori sauce, ensure all ingredients are prepared before starting.
- Chicken can be marinated for a few hours for enhanced flavors.
- Adjust cooking time based on grill type and chicken size.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg