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Close-up of three skewers of Easy Japanese Chicken Yakitori, glazed and topped with sesame seeds and chives.

Easy Japanese Chicken Yakitori Skewers for Family Dinners

These easy Japanese chicken yakitori skewers are perfect for family dinners. They feature a sweet and savory marinade with a hint of lemon and sesame.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Japanese
Calories: 304
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Marinade
  • 1/3 cup Coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup Mirin sweet Japanese rice wine
  • 1/3 cup Tamari or coconut aminos for paleo diet
  • 1/4 cup Rice vinegar
For the Chicken
  • 8 medium Chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil for the grill
For the Sesame Lemon Sprinkle
  • 2 tablespoons Sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon Chives snipped
  • 1 teaspoon Dried red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon zest finely grated

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Resealable plastic bag or marinating container
  • Gas grill
  • Barbecue brush
  • Skewers
  • Instant-read thermometer
  • Serving platter

Method
 

  1. Combine coconut sugar, mirin, tamari, and vinegar in a small saucepan.
  2. Before heating, transfer ¼ cup of the mixture to a resealable plastic bag or marinating container.
  3. Slice chicken thighs lengthwise, add to the bag, and massage to coat. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or more.
  4. Simmer the remaining marinade over low heat until reduced by half. It will have the consistency of syrup. Remove from heat.
  5. Heat one side of a gas grill to medium-high and the other to low. Clean the grates with a barbecue brush then oil them. Thread chicken on to 4 skewers, accordion style.
  6. Grill over direct heat until nicely browned, 3-5 minutes. Remove to the cooler side of the grill and continue to cook, basting and turning every minute or so until cooked through, about 7 - 10 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165°F.
  7. Remove to a serving platter, top with sesame-lemon sprinkle and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 19gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 719mgPotassium: 267mgSugar: 6gVitamin A: 180IUVitamin C: 0.6mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1.4mg

Notes

You can make the marinade ahead if you'd like. Cool and chill, then bring to room temperature before using.

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