Grilled Chicken and Zucchini Yakitori
Grilled Chicken and Zucchini Yakitori is a fun and tasty dish inspired by Japanese street food! Juicy chicken pieces are grilled to perfection alongside tender zucchini, all glazed in a savory-sweet sauce that dances on your taste buds. With a lovely charred flavor and that irresistible barbecue aroma, this recipe brings the charm of the grill straight to our kitchens!
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450g of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (substitutions: chicken breast or tofu for a vegetarian option)
- 1 large zucchini sliced into rounds (substitutions: bell peppers, mushrooms, or eggplant)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce low-sodium is a great option
- 2 tbsp mirin substitutions: rice vinegar + a pinch of sugar
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger grated (or 1/4 tsp ground ginger)
- Sesame seeds for garnish
- Wooden skewers soak in water for 30 minutes prior to grilling to prevent burning
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, mirin, honey, garlic, and ginger. Give it a good whisk until everything is well mixed. This is our flavor bomb, so make sure to taste it! Adjust the sweetness if you like it a bit more sugary or the saltiness with a little extra soy sauce.
- Marinate the Chicken: Chop that chicken into bite-sized pieces and add them to the marinade. Let them mingle and soak up all the goodness for at least 15 minutes. If you want to make this in advance, you can let it sit in the fridge for up to 4 hours!
- Prepare the Zucchini: While the chicken is marinating, slice your zucchini into rounds. No need to perfect them—let’s keep it casual!
- Now it's time to assemble. Thread the marinated chicken pieces and zucchini onto the soaked wooden skewers, alternating between chicken and zucchini like a pro. Leave some space between each piece for even cooking. It’ll give it that perfect char without sticking!
- Grill Time: Fire up the grill! Once it’s hot, place those skewers on and grill for about 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and has those beautiful grill marks. The zucchini will also get nice and tender! For extra flavor, brush on some reserved marinade in the last couple minutes of grilling. Just make sure it’s not the marinade that’s had raw chicken in it to avoid those pesky bacteria!
- Serve and Enjoy: When they’re done, take those skewers off the heat, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and get ready to dig in! These beauties are great on their own or can be served with steamed rice or a fresh salad.