Healthy Summer Recipe – Chicken Yakitori

Japanese cuisine is filled with gastronomical delights that tantalize the taste buds and whet the appetite. In the past, when one mentioned Japanese food, people only thought of sushi or ramen. This is no longer the case. As more Americans look for culinary delights outside their borders, they realize that Japanese cuisine has a lot to offer. If you want a Japanese dish that is filled with flavor, this is it. Chicken Yakitori is a healthy summer recipe that appeals to all and sundry. Make it with these instructions from Food and Wine.

Healthy Summer Recipe – Chicken Yakitori

Image via: Van Eerden Foodservice Company 

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Ingredients

3 cups of sake

3 pounds of chicken thighs (skinless and boneless, cut into small pieces)

1 piece of fresh ginger (4 inches)

¾ cups of mirin

2 bunches of scallions chopped into 1-inch pieces

Vegetable oil (for brushing)

½ cup of sugar (light brown)

1 cup of soy sauce

1½ cups of water

¼ cup of bonito flakes (flakes made from smoked bonito or tuna)

¼ cup of kombu (dried seaweed), cut into small pieces

Directions

1. Put the water and kombu in a saucepan and heat them until they boil. Add the bonito and leave to boil.
2. Take away the pan from the heat and leave to cool for 3 minutes.
3. Strain the broth into a big saucepan. Add the mirin, sake, sugar, and soy sauce to the broth and simmer over high heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture thickens (for about 45 minutes).
4. Soak 16 skewers in water for 20 minutes and drain the water. Put the chicken and scallions on the skewers alternately.
5. Set a small strainer over a bowl and grate the ginger finely. Press the ginger to make juice. You should have approximately 2 tbsp.
6. Brush the skewers with oil and place them on a grill. Grill over moderate heat and keep on turning them until they are cooked (for about 10 minutes).
7. Brush the skewers with the soy glaze and ginger juice before removing them from the grill.
8. Serve with the glaze for dipping.

Image via: Condo Spalillos

For a great outcome, follow the instructions to the latter. If you don’t feel like going outdoors to grill the skewers, you can cook them on a broiler oven. Serve them with peanut noodles for lunch or dinner.

Do you like this healthy summer recipe?