Yakitori Marinade Recipe

2022-11-01

By Umami Samurai

Japanese Cuisine

Marinades

Make a delicious Yakitori Marinade with this easy recipe. Using traditional Japanese ingredients, this flavorful marinade is perfect for chicken, pork, beef, mushrooms, or tofu dishes.

Pitfalls on Yakitori Marinade

 Balancing sweet and savory flavors: Similar to teriyaki marinade, yakitori marinade requires a balance of sweet and savory flavors. The marinade typically consists of soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, and sometimes ginger. Experimenting with different ratios of these ingredients can help you achieve the perfect balance for your taste buds.

 Choosing the right cut of meat: Yakitori traditionally uses chicken, but you can use other meats or vegetables. Selecting the right cut of meat is important for creating tender and flavorful skewers. Chicken thighs are a popular choice because they have more fat and flavor than white meat chicken.

 Skewering the meat: Properly skewering the meat can be a challenge to ensure it cooks evenly. Cut the meat into similar-sized pieces and thread it onto the skewers tightly. Leave a bit of space between the pieces to ensure heat can penetrate each piece evenly.

 Marinating time: The marinating time for yakitori varies depending on the recipe, but it usually ranges from 30 minutes to two hours. Over-marinating can result in the meat becoming too salty, so it's crucial to monitor the marinade time carefully.

 Cooking technique: Yakitori is traditionally cooked over a charcoal grill to get the signature smoky flavor, but it can also be cooked under a broiler or on a stovetop grill pan. Whichever method you choose, it's important to monitor the heat carefully to avoid burning the meat.

 Basting the skewers: Applying a light coat of the marinade to the skewers while cooking helps to enhance the flavor and adds a glaze to the meat. However, if the meat is brushed too much or too early, the sugars in the marinade can burn, causing the meat to become bitter. Brushing the skewers lightly towards the end of the cooking process can help to prevent burning while still achieving the signature flavor of yakitori.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup soy sauce (shoyu)

• 1/4 cup sake

• 1/4 cup mirin

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 knob of ginger, peeled and minced

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, mix together soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, ginger, garlic, honey, and sesame oil.

2. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved.

3. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

4. Pour marinade over your choice of meat or vegetables (chicken, pork, beef, mushrooms, or tofu) and let sit for at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 8 hours.

5. Grill or broil as desired.

6. Serve with rice, vegetables, or as a filling for skewers.

Preparation Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Total time: 40 min

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 104

Fat: 0.5 g

Saturated Fat: 0.1 g

Carbohydrates: 18.7 g

Fiber: 0.1 g

Sugar: 13 g

Protein: 7.3 g

Try this easy recipe for Yakitori Marinade and enjoy it with chicken, pork, beef, mushrooms, or tofu dishes! Share your tasty dish on your socials with the following hashtags #hivercipes #yakitori #japanesefood #chicken #pork #beef #tofu #umamisamurai