Yakitori

mianbao's Note:

Grilled chicken skewers popular in Japan. Chicken thigh meat, green onion, chicken liver, hearts, gizzards, chicken skin can be prepared this way. It tastes best cooked over charcoal. Mirin is a sweet Japanese sake (rice wine). Ordinary sake may be substituted for the mirin, with additional sugar. Translated from Shinkatei Hyakkajiten Vol. 1, Kodan-sha, 1967, with adaptations by me. The garlic is from a suggestion from a person selling this by the side of the street. Use standard American cups. Please use a roomy saucepan for the sauce, as it has a tendency to boil over. Watch both sauce preparation and meat grilling carefully.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 8 skewers

• 1 1/2 cups mirin
• 3/4 cup soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 garlic clove, pressed (optional)
• 1 lb boneless chicken thighs
• 1 -2 green onion, in inch-long pieces (optional)
• 8 bamboo skewers

Directions:

1. Put mirin, soy sauce, sugar and garlic, if using, into a medium-sized sauce pan, and cook over medium heat until there is only half as much sauce remaining.
2. Let cool slightly while you are preparing the chicken.
3. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces; keeping the skin on is usual in Japan.
4. Thread chicken onto skewers, alternating with green onion if desired.
5. Begin grilling the chicken skewers on both sides without the sauce, when the meat starts changing color, brush the sauce on both sides, and continue grilling, brushing on sauce about 3 times total, and turning until done.

Reviews

[LuvMyBabies]

i had to cook this on top of the stove. i cooked the chicken in a pan and took out the water that came out and as soon as there was no more water i poured some of the sauce on top and sauteed it till it caramalized. used the left over sauce to drizzle on the chicken and wow. DELICIOUS! thank you for sharing a great recipe!

[soda girl]

These were awesome!! I didn't have mirin so I used 1/4 cup rice vinegar. Thanks for posting!!

[BigRedChef]

Great recipe! Quick, easy & delicious. I'm a fan of any meat on a stick but this is some next level stuff. Made as written w/garlic but had to sub white wine for mirin. Grilled over medium heat & it turned out awesome. The sweet & salty chicken with the grilled onions is a perfect combo. Definitely a keeper.