Description
Yakitori is a Japanese street food classic featuring tender chicken pieces grilled on skewers and brushed with a sweet and savory tare sauce. Perfect for a quick snack, appetizer, or main dish, yakitori is easy to customize with different cuts of chicken and vegetables. Serve it with steamed rice, pickled veggies, or sake for an authentic Japanese experience.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Tare Sauce:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup mirin
- 1/4 cup sake
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced
For the Yakitori:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4–6 green onions (scallions), cut into 2-inch pieces
- Bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes)
Instructions
Make the Tare Sauce:
- In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, garlic, and ginger.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat and strain to remove garlic and ginger pieces. Set aside to cool.
Prepare the Skewers:
- Thread chicken pieces onto soaked bamboo skewers, alternating with green onion pieces.
Grill the Yakitori:
- Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
- Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 3–4 minutes on each side.
- Brush the skewers generously with the tare sauce during the final minutes of grilling, turning to coat evenly. Grill for an additional 1–2 minutes until the chicken is caramelized and cooked through.
Serve:
- Serve hot, garnished with extra tare sauce if desired. Enjoy with steamed rice or as an appetizer.
Notes
- For variety, try adding other vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini to the skewers.
- You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs, but thighs are recommended for their juiciness and flavor.
- Tare sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.