Description
This Japanese Chicken Yakitori recipe features tender, juicy chicken thigh pieces skewered with green onions and grilled to perfection. The chicken is either simply seasoned with salt or basted with a rich, savory tare sauce made from soy sauce, sake, mirin, and brown sugar. Perfect as a flavorful appetizer or main dish, these grilled skewers deliver authentic Japanese flavors with minimal preparation and quick cooking time.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Skewers
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken thigh meat (boneless and skinless), cut into 1″ cubes
- 2 cups green onions, cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 tablespoon salt (for seasoning if not using tare sauce)
- Bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 20 minutes) or metal skewers
Tare Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup sake
- 1/2 cup mirin
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare Skewers: If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes to prevent burning during grilling. If using metal skewers, handle with care as they get hot.
- Assemble Skewers: Thread the chicken cubes onto the skewers, alternating with two pieces of green onion each time. Leave about 2 inches of space at both ends of the skewer.
- Preheat Grill: Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking and heat the grill to 400°F (204°C).
- Season Chicken: If using salt, sprinkle sea salt evenly on both sides of the chicken skewers before grilling.
- Prepare Tare Sauce: In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, sake, mirin, brown sugar, and water. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened to make the tare sauce so it’s ready before grilling.
- Grill Chicken: Place the skewers on the hot grill and cook for 3-5 minutes per side until the outside is nicely browned.
- Baste with Sauce: If using tare sauce, begin basting the skewers when they are about 75% cooked. Flip the skewers and baste the other side. Repeat the basting process one more time during grilling to build a flavorful glaze.
- Finish Cooking: Remove the skewers from the grill when the chicken is cooked through and the exterior is caramelized—about 7-10 minutes total if just salted, a little longer with tare sauce.
Notes
- Chicken Yakitori with scallions (Negima) is a traditional Japanese dish where chicken and green onions are skewered and grilled.
- Soaking bamboo skewers prevents them from burning on the grill.
- You can choose to cook with just salt for a simple flavor or use the tare sauce for a sweeter, glazed finish.
- Serve hot as a tasty appetizer or part of a Japanese-style meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 218 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 2501 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 108 mg
