Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
User Reviews
5
Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
Description
Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick features skinless, boneless chicken thigh pieces marinated in a mixture of mirin, sake, soy sauce, brown sugar, grated ginger, and sesame oil. This marinade allows the chicken to absorb a sweet and savory glaze, enhanced further by optional honey brushed on while cooking to promote caramelization. Pineapple cubes, either fresh or canned, are threaded alongside the chicken on soaked wooden skewers to add a tropical sweetness that complements the teriyaki flavor.
The dish is prepared by marinating the chicken at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes, then assembling the skewers and cooking them in an oven. The technique ensures juices stay locked in for a tender bite. Toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions provide a textural contrast and brighten the dish with a mild freshness.
These skewers can be served as a main course, appetizer, or part of a BBQ spread. If grilling outdoors, soaking the wooden skewers beforehand is important to avoid burning. The balance of savory marinade and pineapple sweetness makes them versatile for pairing with simple sides or rice dishes.
Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.Adjust chicken cube size carefully; pieces that are too large or small affect cooking time and doneness.If you don't have pineapple, substitute with bell peppers or omit entirely.The use of both mirin and sake is crucial for authentic teriyaki glaze and flavor.The nutritional info is estimated and should be used as a rough guide only.
Ingredients
- 0.8 lb chicken thigh 360g skinless, boneless cut into 1 inch cubes. (The size of the chicken pieces will impact the cooking time so if you make them too big/ small, they may be undercooked or overcooked.)
- 0.7 lb pineapple Cubed. (About 317g) You can use fresh or canned- the canned would make the chicken skewer sweeter. Use 2 to 3 pieces per teriyaki chicken satay, which amounted to 0.7lb for me (just about 1 can of pineapple cubes, minus 2-3 pieces that I snacked on.) If you don't have any on hand, just omit it or substitute with cut bell peppers.
Sauce Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons sake
- 3 Tablespoons mirin Do not omit. This is crucial to give the characteristic teriyaki glaze and flavor.
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce light
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar Can substitute with white sugar
- 1 inch ginger peeled and grated: we will use both the juice and the grated ginger flesh in the marinade. The easiest way to peel ginger is to use the back of a spoon, fresh
- 3 Tablespoons sesame oil Omit if you don't have it.
- ½ Tablespoon honey To add to the boiled marinade and use to baste the skewers, to give them a nice char. See recipe post (Step by Step Instructions) for the difference in color between basted and unbasted chicken sticks.
- 2 Tablespoons pineapple brine If using canned pineapple. If not, omit or substitute with a tiny amount of rice vinegar.
Garnish
- ½ Tablespoon sesame seeds Lightly toasted. Omit if you don't have them, but they do add a nice burst of freshness.
- 1 prig green onions sliced. Also known as spring onions and scallions- click here for green onion substitutes.
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400F/ 200C
- Mix the sauce ingredients- mirin, sake, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and grated ginger- till the brown sugar has dissolved.
- Add the sauce ingredients to a Ziplock Bag large enough to hold the chicken. Add the 1 inch chicken cubes to the sauce. Remove the air from the bag, seal tightly, and flip a few times so that the chicken is all covered with the sauce.
- The chicken needs about 15-20 minutes to reach room temperature, and we'll let the meat marinade in the sauce for that time. (Don't cook cold chicken straight out of the fridge or it'll be tough.) Ideally, turn the bag every 5 minutes.
- Whilst the chicken is marinating, soak or wet the skewers and prepare the cubed pineapples. (If using canned pineapple, you don't want them larger than the chicken pieces.)
- After 15 minutes, start skewering the chicken and pineapple. Use about 2-3 pineapples per skewer. (There should be the same amoutn or more chicken than pineapple on each stick)
- Place the sticks on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring there's a gap in between each. (We don't want them to steam!) Bake for 20-25 minutes, till the internal temperature at the thickest part of the meat is 165ºF (75ºC).
- Whilst the chicken is cooking, transfer the marinade to a pot and boil till reduced to about half. (As the raw chicken was in it, it's crucial that you boil it well to kill all the germs.) After reducing, stir in ½ Tablespoon of honey.
- To give the chicken a nice char, take it out of the oven 1-2 minutes early (i.e. after 18 minutes or so), lightly glaze with the thickened sauce then return to the oven for 1- 2 minutes. (Keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't burn.)
Notes
- Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent catching fire.
- Cut chicken into uniform 1-inch cubes to ensure even cooking and avoid under or overcooking.
- If pineapple is unavailable, substitute with bell peppers or omit for a milder flavor.
- Mirin and sake are essential in the marinade for authentic teriyaki flavor; do not omit them.
- Use canned pineapple for extra sweetness, and save 2 tablespoons of pineapple brine for the marinade when available.
- Toast sesame seeds lightly to enhance their flavor before garnishing.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 15sticks
Amount Per Serving
Calories 111 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 111kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 24mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 247mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 90mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 39IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 11mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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