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Yakitori Recipe

Grilled chicken skewers with tare sauce - a beloved Japanese street food that's perfect for any occasion.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Serves: 4 people
Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 500g chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • Bamboo skewers, soaked in water

For the Tare Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup mirin
  • 1/4 cup sake
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp grated ginger

Instructions

  1. Make the Tare Sauce

    Combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, garlic, and ginger in a saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside to cool.

  2. Prepare the Chicken

    Cut chicken thighs into uniform bite-sized pieces. Thread 3-4 pieces onto each soaked bamboo skewer.

  3. Preheat the Grill

    Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grates to prevent sticking.

  4. Grill the Skewers

    Grill yakitori for 3-4 minutes per side, turning once. The chicken should be golden and cooked through.

  5. Apply Tare Sauce

    Brush the grilled chicken with tare sauce and grill for another 30 seconds per side to caramelize.

  6. Serve

    Serve immediately while hot, with extra tare sauce on the side for dipping.

Chef's Tips

Chicken Selection

Use chicken thighs for the best flavor and juiciness. They stay tender even when grilled at high heat.

Skewer Soaking

Soak bamboo skewers for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.

Tare Consistency

The tare sauce should coat the back of a spoon when ready. Don't over-reduce or it will become too thick.