Yakitori (焼き鳥) literally means grilled chicken and also refers to skewered food in general. Yakitori is commonly made with bite-sized pieces of chicken meat, chicken offal, or other meats and vegetables skewered on a bamboo stick and grilled over binchōtan charcoal. (JustOneCookbook)
YAKITORI CHICKEN by Panning The Globe
Japanese-style grilled chicken and scallion kebabs
Author: Panning The Globe Prep
Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Yield: 6-8
Category: Main Course Cuisine: Japanese
INGREDIENTS
8 12-inch or 16 8-inch bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 1/2 hour or more
Sauce:
1 cup saki
1/2 cup mirin
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1/2 cup (regular) soy sauce
Chicken and Scallions
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized (3/4-inch) pieces
1 bunch scallions (the thicker the better) cut crosswise, into 3/4 inch pieces
Optional garnish:
Ground sansho pepper
Japanese 7 spice powder
* if you can’t find sancho or 7 spice, you may have better luck finding szechuan pepper. In a pinch, a sprinkling of salt and fresh ground black pepper will do.
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the grill. Thread chicken and scallion pieces onto the skewers, alternately
Make the Sauce: In a small pot combine the saki, mirin, garlic, ginger, red pepper, sugar and soy sauces. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until sauce is reduced by about one quarter.
Grill the skewers for 2 minutes. Brush with sauce and turn, brush with sauce on the other side. Grill for 5-8 minutes more, brushing with sauce every 2 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and glazed.
Serve yakitori with sansho and 7 spice to sprinkle on top.
