How to Make Japanese Chicken Skewers

Japanese Chicken Skewers are also known as Yakitori.

Japanese chicken skewers, also known as "Yakitori," is a tasty traditional chicken dish. It is made with bamboo skewers, which are threaded into bite-sized mushrooms, vegetables and chicken pieces, then barbecued or grilled over a charcoal lit flame. They are basted with a sauce made from either a ready-made glazed teriyaki sauce, or a sauce recipe made with a combination of soy sauce, sugar, sake, ginger and garlic. Japanese chicken skewers make an excellent appetizer or main dish, depending on the quantity served.

Things You'll Need

• 1 package of wooden skewers
• 2 medium-sized bowls
• 1 can of olive oil cooking spray
• 2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 lb. shiitake mushrooms
• 1 lb. leeks or scallions
• 1 lb. green peppers
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 3 tbsp. mirin
• 1 tbsp. chopped garlic cloves
• 7 tbsp. sake
• 1 cup soy sauce

Instructions

Instructions

1. Soak some bamboo wooden skewers in some cold water for one hour prior to use.

2. Mix together 2 tbsp. of sugar, 3 tbsp. mirin, 1 tbsp. chopped garlic cloves, 7 tbsp. sake and 1 cup of soy sauce into a small saucepan and put over a medium-low fire, bringing it to a boil. Turn down to low and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes. This mixture is the marinade.

3. Allow the marinade to cool, then pour it into a medium-sized bowl and set aside.

4. Cut 2 lb. chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Place them into the bowl with the marinade mixture and allow to sit.

5. Cut 1 lb. of green peppers and 1 lb. of leeks or scallions into bite-sized pieces. Put them into the other medium-sized bowl and set aside.

6. 

   Thoroughly rinse the mushrooms.

   Rinse 1 lb. of shiitake mushrooms thoroughly, then add them to the bowl containing the vegetables.

7. Thread the chicken and the veggie pieces onto the bamboo skewers, with every third piece being a piece of chicken. Leave at least 1 inch at both ends of the skewers. Lightly spray some olive oil onto the threaded skewers.

8. Place the skewers over a charcoal grill, flipping each side over for several minutes at a time until chicken is completely cooked.

9. Brush the remaining marinade mixture lightly over the cooked skewers. Serve while hot.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve with sake or plumb wine.

• The charcoal coals should not be on fire while grilling the skewers, to prevent them from burning or catching on fire.

• Chicken should be cooked completely throughout to prevent food poisoning.

References

• Whats 4 Eats: Poultry Yakitori
• Food By Country: Germany to Japan
• CD Kitchen: Recipes

Resources

• Just Bento: Very Easy Marinated Chicken Skewers