Yakitori Japanese Skewers
Ingredients
- Miso Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mirin (a Japanese cooking wine, found in specialty shops)
- 1/2 cup sake
- 1/2 cup evaporated cane sugar (or to taste)
- 1 cup white or yellow miso
- 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger pulp
- Teriyaki Sauce:
- 1/3 cup mirin
- 1/3 cup sake
- 1/2 cup evaporated cane sugar (or to taste)
- 1/2 cup dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger pulp
- Yakitori Skewers:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 bunch green onions, most of green parts trimmed and reserved, remaining onions cut into 1-inch-long pieces
- 30 (about) bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 1 hour
- Kosher or sea salt
- Freshly ground white pepper
Preparation
To prepare the miso sauce: Combine the mirin and sake in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the sugar. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes to burn off the alcohol, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and whisk in the miso. Simmer gently until the sauce is a pale caramel color, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Whisk in the ginger.
To prepare the teriyaki sauce: Combine the mirin and sake in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the sugar. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes to burn off the alcohol, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to medium-low and whisk in the soy sauce and ginger.
Simmer until the mixture has thickened to a sauce consistency and coats the back of a spoon. Cool and reserve.
To prepare the skewers: Thread 2 pieces of chicken or pork with 1 piece of green onion alternately on each skewer. Lightly brush with oil then sprinkle lightly with salt and white pepper.
Preheat a heavy large grill pan over high heat. Lightly oil the grill. Grill the skewers until the meat is just cooked through and brown on the outside, about 2 minutes per side.
Transfer the skewers to plates. Brush with the miso sauce or teriyaki sauce. Thinly slice the reserved green parts of the green onions and sprinkle them over the skewers. Serve immediately.
