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Cooking Guide to Delicious Yakitori

If you're a fan of Japanese cuisine, you've probably heard of yakitori - a delicious and popular dish made of skewered chicken grilled over charcoal. Yakitori is a staple of Japanese street food and izakaya menus, and it's not hard to see why. The succulent and juicy chicken, paired with a variety of sauces and seasonings, makes for a mouth-watering snack or meal. But if you've never cooked yakitori before, the process can seem intimidating. That's where this cooking guide comes in. In this article, we'll break down everything you need to know to make delicious yakitori at home. From choosing the right cuts of chicken to mastering the grilling process, we'll cover it all. So, if you're ready to impress your friends and family with your culinary skills, grab your skewers and let's get started!

History of Yakitori

Before we dive into the cooking process, let's take a brief look at the history of yakitori. The dish has been around for centuries, with some accounts dating back to the Edo period (1603-1868). Originally, yakitori was made by street vendors who would grill chicken skewers over charcoal and sell them to hungry patrons. Eventually, yakitori made its way into izakayas, or Japanese pubs, where it became a beloved bar snack. Today, yakitori can be found all over Japan, from street vendors to high-end restaurants. It's also become popular in other parts of the world, with many restaurants and food trucks offering their own take on the classic dish.

Choosing the Right Chicken

The key to making delicious yakitori is choosing the right cuts of chicken. While you can use any part of the chicken, some cuts work better than others. Thigh meat is the most commonly used cut for yakitori, as it's more flavorful and tender than breast meat. However, if you prefer white meat, chicken breast can also be used. The key is to choose boneless, skinless cuts of chicken that are roughly the same size, so they cook evenly on the skewers.

When it comes to buying chicken for yakitori, it's best to go for high-quality, free-range chicken. Look for chicken that is labeled "jidori," which means it's locally raised and fed a natural diet. If you can't find jidori chicken, look for organic or free-range chicken instead. Avoid using frozen chicken, as it will have a different texture and won't be as flavorful as fresh chicken.

Once you have your chicken, it's time to prepare it for skewering. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, roughly 1 inch by 1 inch. Make sure to remove any excess fat or sinew, as this can make the meat tough. You can also marinate the chicken at this point, which we'll cover in the next section.

Marinating Your Chicken

Marinating your chicken is optional, but it can add a lot of flavor to your yakitori. There are many different marinades you can use, depending on your taste preferences. Some popular options include:

- Soy sauce, sake, and mirin: This is the classic yakitori marinade, and it's a great option if you want to keep things simple. Simply mix together equal parts soy sauce, sake, and mirin, and marinate your chicken for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours).

- Teriyaki sauce: If you prefer a sweeter marinade, teriyaki sauce is a great option. You can use store-bought teriyaki sauce, or make your own by mixing together soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, and cornstarch. - Miso marinade: Miso is a fermented soybean paste that adds a savory, umami flavor to your chicken. To make a miso marinade, mix together miso paste, sake, mirin, and sugar.

No matter which marinade you choose, make sure to let your chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours) before skewering and grilling.

Skewering Your Chicken

Once your chicken is cut and marinated (if desired), it's time to skewer it. You can use metal or bamboo skewers for yakitori, but bamboo skewers are more traditional. If using bamboo skewers, make sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using, to prevent them from burning on the grill.

To skewer your chicken, thread the pieces onto the skewer, leaving a small gap between each piece. Make sure not to overcrowd the skewer, as this can make it difficult for the chicken to cook evenly. If you're using vegetables or other ingredients, you can also skewer them with the chicken. Some popular options include green onions, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.

Grilling Your Yakitori

Now it's time for the fun part - grilling your yakitori! The best way to grill yakitori is over charcoal, as this gives it a smoky, charred flavor. However, you can also use a gas grill or broiler if you don't have access to charcoal.

To grill your yakitori, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the skewers on the grill, and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred. Brush the skewers with any remaining marinade during the last minute of cooking, to add extra flavor.

Once your yakitori is cooked, remove it from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, making the chicken even more tender and juicy.

Serving Your Yakitori

Yakitori is typically served with a variety of sauces and seasonings, which can be customized to your taste preferences. Some popular options include:

- Tare sauce: This is a sweet and savory sauce made with soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, and other seasonings. It's a classic accompaniment to yakitori, and it's great for dipping your skewers into. - Shichimi togarashi: This is a Japanese spice blend made with seven different spices, including chili pepper, sesame seeds, and dried orange peel. It's a great way to add some heat and flavor to your yakitori.

- Wasabi: If you like things spicy, wasabi is a great option. It's a pungent Japanese condiment made from grated horseradish root, and it pairs perfectly with grilled chicken.

You can also serve your yakitori with a variety of side dishes, such as rice, pickles, and grilled vegetables. And of course, don't forget to pair it with a cold beer or sake!

Conclusion

Making delicious yakitori at home is easier than you might think. By choosing the right chicken, marinating it (if desired), skewering it, and grilling it to perfection, you can create a mouth-watering dish that's sure to impress your friends and family. And with a variety of sauces and seasonings to choose from, you can customize your yakitori to your taste preferences. So the next time you're craving Japanese street food, skip the restaurant and make your own yakitori at home!

Japanese Yakitori Meal Ideas
Southeast Asian Black Kale Taco (with a bit of Pork Belly)

The recipe Southeast Asian Black Kale Taco (with a bit of Pork Belly) is ready in approximately 45 minutes and is definitely an excellent gluten free option for lovers of Mexican food. This recipe serves 8 and costs $1.13 per serving. One portion of this dish contains about 10g of protein, 33g of fat, and a total of 446 calories. 1 person has made this recipe and would make it again. Head to the store and pick up cream, pork belly, mint, and a few other things to make it today. All things considered, we decided this recipe deserves a spoonacular score of 57%. This score is pretty good. Try Pork Belly (or Chicken) Yakitori & Asian Slaw, Asian Pork Belly Bean Soup with Video, and Southeast Asian Rib Eye Steaks for similar recipes.

Beef Yakitori

If you have about 4 hours and 30 minutes to spend in the kitchen, Beef Yakitori might be an excellent gluten free and dairy free recipe to try. This main course has 369 calories, 27g of protein, and 25g of fat per serving. This recipe serves 4 and costs $2.46 per serving. 47 people have tried and liked this recipe. It is brought to you by Allrecipes. This recipe is typical of Japanese cuisine. If you have soy sauce, sirloin steak, sesame seeds, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 69%, which is solid. If you like this recipe, you might also like recipes such as Beef Yakitori, Beef Tenderloin Yakitori, and Japanese Style Barbecue Party: Chicken Yakitori, Beef with Ginger and Soy, 5 Spice and Sesame Seared Ahi.

Artichoke and Eggplant Skewers

Artichoke and Eggplant Skewers is a caveman, gluten free, primal, and whole 30 recipe with 8 servings. One serving contains 66 calories, 1g of protein, and 5g of fat. For 79 cents per serving, this recipe covers 3% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. This recipe from My Recipes has 1 fans. Head to the store and pick up salt, pepper, olive oil, and a few other things to make it today. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes around 45 minutes. Overall, this recipe earns a not so spectacular spoonacular score of 34%. Similar recipes are Grilled Baby Artichoke Skewers, Tunan and eggplant yakitori skewers with soy dipping sauce, and Greek Inspired Zucchini, Halloumi and Artichoke Vegetable Skewers | Vegetables on the Grill.

Chicken Yakitori with Scallions (Traditional Style Japanese Kebabs)

If you have approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes to spend in the kitchen, Chicken Yakitori with Scallions (Traditional Style Japanese Kebabs) might be a tremendous gluten free and dairy free recipe to try. This recipe makes 4 servings with 434 calories, 51g of protein, and 6g of fat each. For $3.4 per serving, this recipe covers 28% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. It is brought to you by Foodnetwork. It works well as a rather pricey main course. 1 person found this recipe to be yummy and satisfying. Only a few people really liked this Japanese dish. If you have cornstarch, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 58%, which is pretty good. Japanese Style Barbecue Party: Chicken Yakitori, Beef with Ginger and Soy, 5 Spice and Sesame Seared Ahi, BBQ Chicken Yakitori Kebabs, and Yakitori: Japanese skewered chicken are very similar to this recipe.

Chicken Yakitori

Need a gluten free and dairy free main course? Chicken Yakitori could be an amazing recipe to try. This recipe makes 4 servings with 276 calories, 35g of protein, and 7g of fat each. For $1.83 per serving, this recipe covers 18% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. Only a few people made this recipe, and 1 would say it hit the spot. If you have soy sauce, sake, pepper, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. To use up the fresh ginger you could follow this main course with the Fresh Ginger Cookies as a dessert. It is a reasonably priced recipe for fans of Japanese food. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes around 17 minutes. It is brought to you by My Recipes. With a spoonacular score of 53%, this dish is solid. Similar recipes include Chicken Yakitori, Chicken Yakitori, and Chicken Yakitori.

Chicken Thigh Cacciatore

You can never have too many main course recipes, so give Chicken Thigh Cacciatore a try. This recipe serves 4. One serving contains 842 calories, 46g of protein, and 52g of fat. For $2.59 per serving, this recipe covers 28% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. If you have vegetable oil, salt, garlic clove, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. To use up the vegetable oil you could follow this main course with the Blueberry Coffee Cake #SundaySupper as a dessert. 1 person were glad they tried this recipe. It is brought to you by My Recipes. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 35 minutes. All things considered, we decided this recipe deserves a spoonacular score of 53%. This score is solid. Similar recipes include Chicken Thigh and Fennel Sausage Cacciatore, Chicken Thigh Yakitori, and Chicken Thigh Piccata.

Japanese Style Barbecue Party: Chicken Yakitori, Beef with Ginger and Soy, 5 Spice and Sesame Seared Ahi

The recipe Japanese Style Barbecue Party: Chicken Yakitori, Beef with Ginger and Soy, 5 Spice and Sesame Seared Ahi is ready in about 33 minutes and is definitely a tremendous gluten free and dairy free option for lovers of Barbecue food. This main course has 1008 calories, 69g of protein, and 44g of fat per serving. This recipe serves 6 and costs $6.62 per serving. This recipe is liked by 1 foodies and cooks. Head to the store and pick up steak seasoning blend, asian pears, tamari soy sauce, and a few other things to make it today. It will be a hit at your Father's Day event. It is brought to you by Foodnetwork. All things considered, we decided this recipe deserves a spoonacular score of 84%. This score is awesome. Users who liked this recipe also liked Seared Ahi Tuna with Soy Ginger Sauce, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna with Soy Ginger Lime Sauce, and Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna with Soy Ginger Lime Sauce.

Chicken Yakitori

The recipe Chicken Yakitori is ready in around 1 hour and 30 minutes and is definitely a super gluten free and dairy free option for lovers of Japanese food. This recipe serves 45. One serving contains 201 calories, 7g of protein, and 15g of fat. For $1.01 per serving, this recipe covers 4% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. It is brought to you by My Recipes. Only a few people made this recipe, and 1 would say it hit the spot. A mixture of chicken thighs, ginger, sake, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so flavorful. All things considered, we decided this recipe deserves a spoonacular score of 14%. This score is not so spectacular. Try Chicken Yakitori, Chicken Yakitori, and Chicken Yakitori for similar recipes.

Chicken Yakitori with Noodles

Need a dairy free main course? Chicken Yakitori with Noodles could be an outstanding recipe to try. This recipe serves 4 and costs $2.35 per serving. One portion of this dish contains around 41g of protein, 23g of fat, and a total of 718 calories. 1 person were glad they tried this recipe. Not a lot of people really liked this Japanese dish. This recipe from Taste of Home requires broccoli florets, sake, ground ginger, and green onions. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 30 minutes. Taking all factors into account, this recipe earns a spoonacular score of 72%, which is solid. Chicken Yakitori, Chicken Yakitori, and Chicken Yakitori are very similar to this recipe.

Chicken Yakitori

You can never have too many Japanese recipes, so give Chicken Yakitori a try. Watching your figure? This gluten free and dairy free recipe has 201 calories, 7g of protein, and 15g of fat per serving. This recipe serves 45 and costs $1.01 per serving. 1 person has made this recipe and would make it again. If you have soy sauce, brown sugar, kombu, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. It is brought to you by My Recipes. With a spoonacular score of 14%, this dish is not so amazing. Similar recipes include Chicken Yakitori, Chicken Yakitori, and Chicken Yakitori.

Videos for Making Different Japanese Yakitori Style Dishes
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