Chicken and Green Onion Yakitori

Grilling is a revered tradition in Japan, whether you favor the more formal style called robatayaki or casual yakitori. Yaki means grilled, and tori refers to chicken.

Serves 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs

2 bunches thick green onions, plus 3 green onions coarsely chopped, divided

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup sake

1/2 cup mirin (sweet rice wine)

3 tablespoons sugar

3 (1/4-inch thick) slices fresh ginger

3 cloves garlic, minced

Vegetable oil for oiling grate

DIRECTIONS

Place 10 to 12 bamboo skewers in a pan; cover with cold water and allow to soak while you prepare yakitori.

Rinse chicken in cold running water; drain and blot dry

with paper towels. Cut crosswise into pieces 2-inches long and 1/2-inch wide and thick. Set aside.

Trim roots from whole green onions and cut white portion into 2-inch pieces. Cut green portion into 4-inch pieces and fold in half.

Dry skewers. Thread chicken pieces crosswise on skewers, alternating with green onion (both a piece of white and a folded piece of green); use 4 pieces of chicken on each skewer. Arrange skewers on platter and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to grill, up to 6 hours.

Preheat grill to high.

Prepare sauce: Combine soy, sake, mirin, sugar, ginger, garlic and chopped green onion in a small, heavy saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat, stirring until blended and sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until sauce is glossy and syrupy and reduced to 3/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain into bowl. Sauce can be prepared up to 6 hours in advance, covered and refrigerated.

When ready to cook, oil grill grate. Arrange skewers on hot grate and grill, turning with tongs, until chicken is nicely browned and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes per side; brush it generously with sauce at least once on each side while cooking, but not during the last 3 minutes.

— Adapted from “The Barbecue Bible” by Steven Raichlen (Workman)