Savor the smoky-sweet flavors of Japanese chicken skewers without the grill. Traditionally prepared over an open flame, this oven-baked version captures the same tenderness and depth of flavor with ease. I baked these easy and delicious chicken skewers in the oven at a high temperature instead. High-heat roasting gives the chicken a beautifully caramelized finish without the fuss of grilling. I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs for extra tenderness, though boneless breasts work just as well. The secret is in the sauce—simmer it until it thickly coats the back of a spoon, intensifying its sweet-savory flavor. If you do take these outside to the grill, remember to soak your wooden skewers so they don’t burn. I paired my chicken skewers with basmati rice and a spicy cucumber salad. (https://zestforcooking.com/2023/05/18/spicy-sesame-cucumber-salad/)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup soy sauce or tamari
- 3/4 cup dry vermouth or mirin
- 1/3 cup sake or dry sherry
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey or to taste
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into chunks for threading on skewers
- fresh scallions thinly sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce, dry vermouth, sake, water, sugar, sesame oil, garlic and ginger in a small sauce pan. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes, or until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Set sauce aside to cool. Reserve about 1/3 cup of the marinade to serve with the chicken.
- Soak about 8-10 wooden skewers for about 30 minutes while you cut up the chicken. Place the chicken thigh pieces in a large bowl. Pour the marinade over the chicken and toss to coat. You can cover and refrigerate the chicken for a couple of hours while it marinates.
- When you're ready to cook the chicken, thread the chicken onto the skewers. Oil your grill grates or pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grill the skewers for about 8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. If baking in the oven, cook for about 12-15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Garnish with sliced scallions.
