Yakitori

Experience the irresistible flavors of Japan with this traditional Yakitori recipe, a delightful dish featuring tender, bite-sized chicken thighs and scallions beautifully caramelized over an open flame. The key to its bold, savory taste lies in the rich tare sauce—a heavenly blend of soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, garlic, and ginger—lovingly brushed onto the skewers as they grill to golden perfection. Quick to prepare and customizable, this recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or as a show-stopping appetizer at your next barbecue. Serve these smoky, umami-packed skewers with a drizzle of extra tare sauce for a truly authentic Japanese street food experience!

Nutriscore Rating: 57/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 grams Chicken thighs
• 100 ml Soy sauce
• 50 ml Mirin
• 50 ml Sake
• 2 tablespoons Sugar
• 2 Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon Ginger, grated
• 4 stalks Green onions (scallions)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
• 10 Bamboo skewers

Directions

Step 1

Start by soaking the bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill.

Step 2

Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces, roughly 2 cm squares.

Step 3

Trim and cut the green onions into 3 cm pieces, aligning them with the size of the chicken.

Step 4

Prepare the tare sauce by combining soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Step 5

Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the saucepan.

Step 6

Bring the mixture to a simmer, allowing the sugar to dissolve completely. Continue simmering until the sauce thickens slightly, about 8-10 minutes.

Step 7

Remove the tare sauce from heat and let it cool.

Step 8

Thread the chicken and green onion pieces onto the soaked skewers, alternating the chicken and onion.

Step 9

Lightly season the skewers with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Step 10

Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.

Step 11

Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, basting occasionally with the prepared tare sauce.

Step 12

Continue grilling until the chicken is fully cooked through and slightly caramelized from the sauce.

Step 13

Remove from the grill and let the skewers rest for a couple of minutes.

Step 14

Serve warm, garnished with additional tare sauce if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	868.9 grams (868.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1430

Total Fat 55.50g	71%
Saturated Fat 16.10g	81%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 470mg	157%
Sodium 6674mg	290%
Total Carbohydrate 65.00g	24%
Dietary Fiber 1.90g	7%
Total Sugars 53.30g
Protein 141.00g	282%

Vitamin D 35IU	175%
Calcium 121mg	9%
Iron 7mg	37%
Potassium 1719mg	37%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.7%

Protein: 42.6%

Carbs: 19.6%