Chicken Yakitori (Grilled Skewers)
Yakitori
Bite-sized pieces of chicken and scallions skewered and grilled over charcoal, glazed with a savory-sweet tare sauce. It's a high-protein, portion-controlled dish that delivers intense flavor without excess fat.
Time
30m
Servings
4
Difficulty
medium
Budget
$
The Story
Yakitori literally translates to 'grilled bird.' It emerged in the mid-17th century but became massively popular after World War II when chicken became more affordable. It is the quintessential Japanese street food and izakaya staple, traditionally cooked over binchotan (white oak charcoal) which burns at extreme heat without smoke. The beauty of yakitori lies in its efficiency: every part of the chicken is used, and the small skewers naturally encourage moderation.
✓Healthy Swaps & Tips
- • Use chicken breast instead of thighs to reduce fat, but watch carefully so they don't dry out.
- • Add cherry tomatoes or bell pepper chunks to the skewers to increase the vegetable content.
- • For a lower-sugar tare, rely just on the mirin and omit the added sugar.
Ingredients
- 500gboneless, skinless chicken thighscut into bite-sized pieces
- 6large scallionscut into 3cm lengths
- 4 tbspsoy sauce
- 4 tbspmirin
- 2 tbspsake
- 1 tbspsugar
- 8-10bamboo skewerssoaked in water for 30 mins
Instructions
In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. Simmer over medium-low heat until it reduces and thickens slightly (about 10 minutes). This is your tare (sauce). Set aside.
Thread the chicken pieces and scallion lengths alternately onto the soaked bamboo skewers.
Preheat a grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates.
Grill the skewers for 3 minutes on the first side. Flip and grill for 3 more minutes.
Brush the skewers generously with the tare sauce. Grill for 1 more minute per side until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is caramelized and slightly charred.
Serve hot, with extra tare sauce on the side if desired.
Common Questions
Why use chicken thighs instead of breast?
Thigh meat is more forgiving on the grill and stays juicy. Breast meat tends to dry out quickly when cut into small pieces.
Do I have to soak the skewers?
Yes, soaking bamboo skewers in water prevents them from catching fire on the grill.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated values based on standard ingredients.
Nutrition info is provided as a general guide. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredient brands and portion sizes.
