All about Yakitori Skewers

Yakitori, which means “grilled chicken” in Japanese, are small skewers of grilled meat of Japanese origin that are starting to make a name for themselves here. So what’s behind their growing popularity? Learn more about this grilled delicacy.

What Are Yakitori?

They are thin slices of meat, mostly chicken, that are threaded onto bamboo skewers, and then cooked on the grill with charcoal. Over time, the term yakitori has spread to other types of skewers, such as beef, pork, fish, tofu, and even vegetables.

Where Do They Come From?

Yakitori originates from Japanese street food. Traditionally, they are eaten in casual bistros, often standing up, with a beer, before going to dinner.

How Do You Eat Them?

Usually, they are served in the form of bites. They are meant to be hand-held, eaten straight from the skewer or using chopsticks to remove the meat before eating. They can be served with vegetables, such as fresh tomatoes, a salad or mini corn ears.

Marinade

For the classic recipe, a sweet-savoury marinade—usually made from soy sauce, mirin (a condiment made from fermented rice), sake and sugar— is brushed on the skewers before cooking. Once grilled, they are seasoned with salt or accompanied by a thick, sweet sauce.

For your skewer cravings, let yourself be inspired by these recipes: