Skewered grilled chicken resting on a rack

Makes 8 portions

Chicken Skewers

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken livers, cut into 3/4-in pieces
  • 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3/4-in pieces
  • 8 scallions, cut into 3/4-in pieces

Yakitori Sauce

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sake
  • 1 cup mirin
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup light soy sauce, not low-sodium
  • Ground sansho pepper, as needed
  • Japanese seven-spice (shichimi togarashi), as needed

Directions

  1. Soak the 8 bamboo skewers in water for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Skewer the chicken livers, chicken thighs, and scallions alternately onto the skewers.
  3. For the sauce, combine the sake, mirin, sugar, soy sauces, sansho, and seven-spice in a pot, and allow it to simmer until it has reduced by a one-quarter, 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Prepare a grill for high-heat cooking. Grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until they are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  5. During the last minute on the grill, brush the yakitori sauce onto the skewers and allow to caramelize slightly.
  6. Remove from the grill, and sprinkle with sansho pepper and Japanese seven-spice.

CIA FOODIES


Chicken Yakitori

Skewered grilled chicken resting on a rack
Makes 8 portions

Chicken Skewers

Yakitori Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken livers, cut into 3/4-in pieces
  • 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3/4-in pieces
  • 8 scallions, cut into 3/4-in pieces

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sake
  • 1 cup mirin
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup light soy sauce, not low-sodium
  • Ground sansho pepper, as needed
  • Japanese seven-spice (shichimi togarashi), as needed

Directions

  1. Soak the 8 bamboo skewers in water for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Skewer the chicken livers, chicken thighs, and scallions alternately onto the skewers.
  3. For the sauce, combine the sake, mirin, sugar, soy sauces, sansho, and seven-spice in a pot, and allow it to simmer until it has reduced by a one-quarter, 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Prepare a grill for high-heat cooking. Grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until they are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  5. During the last minute on the grill, brush the yakitori sauce onto the skewers and allow to caramelize slightly.
  6. Remove from the grill, and sprinkle with sansho pepper and Japanese seven-spice.

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One Comment

  1. In Japan all parts of the chicken are offered as yakitori. The grilled skin is especially savored as are the heart and gizzard. It is important to use a grill that will let you get as close to the coals as possible so that you can get a proper char on the food. A special charcoal is used for this grilling and is available (not cheaply) in the U.S. It produces a very high heat and produces little ash. When people are finished with the charcoal they put it in an airtight container so that it can be reused again.

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