Learn to cook dinner traditional Hen Teriyaki at residence in lower than 20 minutes utilizing genuine Japanese cooking strategies. You‘ll love the seared and juicy rooster thighs glazed in a simple and flavorful selfmade sauce. No bottled teriyaki sauce wanted!
All people loves some good, juicy rooster in a candy sticky glaze. Because of this rooster teriyaki, a humble Japanese dish, is so fashionable in all places on the earth! On this recipe, I’ll present you make genuine Hen Teriyaki at residence—how it’s completed in Japan.
This foolproof Japanese methodology provides you essentially the most flavorful meat and the crispest pores and skin. It’s so good, simple, and a positive win for a weeknight dinner.
What’s Hen Teriyaki?
Teriyaki (照り焼き) generally refers to a mode of cooking, however it additionally refers back to the title of a cooked dish or the sauce that’s used to brush over the meals.
That can assist you perceive higher, teri (照り) means “luster,” given by the candy soy sauce marinade, whereas yaki (焼き) has a broader definition that may denote “cook dinner or pan-fry or grill.” When translated actually, the dish means “shiny or shiny grilled rooster,” because it describes the lustrous glaze on the rooster created by the teriyaki sauce.
There are numerous selfmade teriyaki rooster recipes on-line, and to be trustworthy, lots of them have been modified or deviated from the unique methodology. Right here are some things you would possibly wish to know:
- The Japanese don’t bake the rooster teriyaki within the oven, cook dinner it in an Immediate Pot, or cook dinner it in a sheet pan with greens.
- We don’t grill the rooster at residence both, as most Japanese houses are too small to personal a grill.
- There are not any bottled teriyaki sauces in Japan. We normally make our sauce with 4 easy pantry staples.
So, how can we cook dinner rooster teriyaki in Japan? We pan-fry the rooster over the range till we sear the pores and skin, then simmer it with the sauce till it thickens and caramelizes, leaving the meat with an irresistibly shiny end.
Substances for Hen Teriyaki
It’s superb that you just solely want a number of pantry staples to make this traditional Japanese recipe!
- Hen thighs – For the normal genuine model, select boneless, skin-on rooster thighs, however you can even use skinless rooster thighs. How about rooster breasts? I’ll talk about about it within the subsequent part.
- Salt and pepper – Just a bit bit of those. Most flavors come from the teriyaki sauce.
- Do-it-yourself teriyaki sauce – 4 easy substances: Soy sauce, sake, mirin, and sugar.
Skinless or Pores and skin-on Hen
In Japan, boneless, skin-on chicken thighs are at all times most well-liked for rooster teriyaki as a result of they don’t dry out shortly. The pores and skin additionally offers a protecting layer between the rooster flesh and the new pan. Hen pores and skin yields a scrumptious taste and acts like a magnet for the sticky sauce. Consequently, you get moist, flavorful, and juicy meat each time. American grocery shops usually carry bone-in, skin-on rooster thighs. You’ll be able to ask the butcher to take away the bone for you, or you’ll be able to debone the thighs with a pointy knife.
Right here within the U.S., nonetheless, most individuals want boneless, skinless rooster thighs. So my teriyaki recipe beneath focuses on the recipe with skinless thighs. You’ll be able to see my skin-on model on the finish of the recipe directions.
Hen Thighs vs. Breast
When cooking rooster, thighs are extra forgiving than breasts. Thighs can stand up to greater temperatures and longer cooking instances. Which is why thighs are perfect for this Hen Teriyaki recipe.
The fats from rooster thighs retains the meat moist and tender all through cooking, leading to a juicier and extra flavorful dish.
You should use rooster breasts if that’s what you favor. Simply keep in mind that rooster breasts have extra fiber and have a tendency to show rubbery ahead of thighs.
Genuine Teriyaki Sauce
The essential teriyaki sauce is product of solely 4 easy substances:
- Soy sauce is essentially the most essential and outstanding ingredient, giving teriyaki sauce a wealthy, darkish coloration. It imparts umami and saltiness. You wish to use Japanese soy sauce, not different Asian soy sauce.
- Sake is Japanese rice wine, a vital ingredient in Japanese cooking. Along with tenderizing the meat, the amino acids in sake take away any odor of the rooster. Different key causes to make use of sake? It provides refined sweetness and umami to the dish. See my advisable sake model and substitution right here.
- Mirin is Japanese candy rice wine. This syrupy condiment provides a pleasant shine and pure sweetness to the sauce, serving to to mood its saltiness. It additionally helps the flavour sink in and absolutely develop. Learn extra about mirin right here.
- Sugar performs an important position in balancing out the saltiness of soy sauce, lending teriyaki sauce its signature candy and savory taste. We additionally want the sugar to thicken the sauce so it should caramelize fantastically and create a shiny sheen that coats the rooster.
My fundamental teriyaki sauce consists of two elements soy sauce, two elements sake, two elements mirin, and one half sugar (2:2:2:1). You’ll be able to regulate the ratio to fit your style.
You’ll be able to even make a large batch of Do-it-yourself Teriyaki Sauce forward of time and retailer it in a bottle within the fridge.
Non-obligatory Sauce Substances:
Typically, you’ll be able to add non-obligatory substances reminiscent of grated ginger, grated onion, and minced garlic for added depth and zing. You’ll be able to change issues barely primarily based on the substances (meat, poultry, seafood, greens, and tofu).
Many teriyaki sauce recipes I’ve seen on-line name for rice vinegar, honey, brown sugar, sesame oil, or apple cider vinegar within the sauce combination. I might not advocate them when you want to comply with the genuine Japanese cooking methodology.
Some individuals even use cornstarch to thicken the sauce, however it’s pointless. Because the alcohol from sake and mirin evaporates, the sauce will naturally cut back and thicken with the sugar caramelizing through the simmering course of.
Ought to we marinate the rooster within the teriyaki sauce?
In Japan, we don’t usually marinate rooster to make rooster teriyaki as a result of we use a pan-frying methodology. If you cook dinner the marinated rooster within the frying pan, it steams in a pool of the remaining marinade, making it harder to get a pleasant searing mark.
Should you plan to cook dinner the rooster in your BBQ grill, you’ll be able to marinate it. Because you cook dinner it over an open body, the rooster won’t keep in a pool of marinade and may get a pleasant char on it.
Easy methods to Make Hen Teriyaki
Hen teriyaki is very easy and fast to make. You have to a pointy knife, a chopping board, a big frying pan, and a small mixing bowl. In lower than 20 minutes, you may be having fun with scrumptious rooster teriyaki!
- Combine the selfmade teriyaki sauce. Warmth it within the microwave and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Put together the rooster. Rating and flatten the thighs to create an excellent thickness. This step is absolutely necessary, so please don‘t skip it!
- Pan-fry the rooster. Prepare dinner the rooster for five minutes, urgent down arduous with a spatula to offer the presentation aspect a pleasant sear. Flip over, sear the opposite aspect, and canopy and steam it for an additional 3 minutes.
- Add the teriyaki sauce to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the thighs till effectively coated. When the rooster is cooked by way of, take away from the pan. Slice and drizzle with the sauce.
Hen Teriyaki Cooking Suggestions
- Rating and flatten the thighs for an even thickness. Reduce slits throughout the meat each ½ inch (1.3 cm) with out slicing right through. Make deeper slits on the rooster‘s thick elements and skip scoring the skinny elements. After every minimize, press open and flatten the meat together with your fingers. Scoring and flattening the meat will assist distribute the warmth evenly and stop overcooking for dramatically juicier rooster! It’s an additional step, however it in the end makes a distinction.
- Pan-fry and sear the rooster (5 minutes): You solely want a dependable frying pan or massive skillet to pan-fry the rooster. The pan and oil should be sizzling earlier than including the rooster so it will get a pleasant brown sear shortly. If you cook dinner the rooster, bear in mind to put the smoother aspect (or the pores and skin aspect) down first. Press the rooster down with a spatula and let it sear undisturbed till the pores and skin crisps up and browned.
- Steam the rooster (3 minutes): Flip and cook dinner lined on low warmth as soon as the rooster is browned. Steaming helps cook dinner totally till not pink inside. It’s greatest to not overcook the rooster as it should proceed to cook dinner with the sauce.
- Patiently spoon over the teriyaki sauce: As soon as the teriyaki sauce is poured over the rooster, tilt the frying pan to pour the sauce over the rooster. Repeat this course of till the rooster absorbs the scrumptious glaze and begins to shine. Take away the rooster and cut back the sauce within the pan if the sauce is simply too skinny.
What to Serve With Hen Teriyaki
Easy and bursting with candy but savory taste, I consider anybody can cook dinner this traditional Japanese dish at residence. Serve the Hen Teriyaki with rice with a salad or steamed greens like broccoli. Listed here are some aspect dish concepts that pair effectively with rooster teriyaki:
Readers’ Teriyaki Hen Recipes
Teriyaki Hen was the problem recipe for the JOC Cooking Problem June 2024. Take a look at the scrumptious dishes created by JOC readers!
Different Teriyaki Recipes You’ll Take pleasure in
Love teriyaki dishes? Discover salmon, tofu, rooster meatballs, and beef in 17 Greatest Genuine Teriyaki Recipes to Make At House!
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To Combine the Teriyaki Sauce
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In a small microwave-safe bowl, mix the sauce substances: 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp mirin, 2 Tbsp sake, and 1 Tbsp sugar.
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Microwave the sauce till sizzling. Combine effectively to dissolve the sugar and put aside.
To Put together the Hen
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Place ¾–1 lb boneless, skinless rooster thighs clean aspect down on a chopping board. Now, use the scoring methodology to create an even thickness so the thighs cook dinner evenly. First, minimize slits throughout the meat each ½ inch (1.3 cm) with out slicing right through. Be aware: Don’t use a meat mallet/tenderizer for this necessary step, as chances are you’ll harm the thighs.
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Make deeper slits on the rooster‘s thick elements and skip scoring the skinny elements. After every minimize, press open and flatten the meat together with your fingers. Within the beneath photos, you’ll be able to see how I scored (left) and flattened (proper) one piece. When you end scoring, examine once more to ensure the thigh has an excellent thickness. Repeat with the remainder of the thighs.
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Frivolously season the rooster items with ⅛ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt and ⅛ tsp freshly floor black pepper.
To Sear the Hen
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Warmth a big frying pan over medium to medium-high warmth. When the pan is sizzling, add 1 Tbsp impartial oil. When the oil is sizzling, place the rooster clean aspect down within the pan. Be aware: The underside aspect would be the presentation aspect.
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Prepare dinner the rooster for 5 minutes (set a timer). Instantly, press down arduous on the rooster with a spatula for 5–10 seconds to offer the presentation aspect a pleasant sear. The precise picture beneath exhibits what the rooster appears to be like like after 5 minutes of cooking; please regulate the time primarily based in your range and cookware.
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Flip over the rooster. Instantly press it down once more with the spatula for 5–10 seconds.
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Swap to low warmth, then cowl with a lid and steam the rooster for 3 minutes.
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Open the lid. Use a paper towel to wipe the surplus grease and protein from the pan. This helps create a extra clear sauce.
To Add the Teriyaki Sauce
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Now, improve the range‘s warmth to medium and add the teriyaki sauce to the pan. Tilt the pan and ceaselessly spoon the sauce over the rooster.
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When the rooster is effectively coated with the sauce and cooked by way of, switch it to a chopping board.
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When the sauce is thick sufficient, switch it to a bowl. Bear in mind to cease cooking whereas the sauce is barely skinny as a result of the residual warmth will proceed to thicken the sauce. Should you‘d prefer it thicker, cut back the sauce for two–3 extra minutes.
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Slice the rooster into bite-sized items. Switch them to a ceramic plate. Sear with a kitchen butane torch to reinforce the flavour. You can too use a broiler within the oven.
To Prepare dinner Pores and skin-on Hen Thighs
Energy: 652 kcal · Carbohydrates: 10 g · Protein: 38 g · Fats: 47 g · Saturated Fats: 18 g · Polyunsaturated Fats: 8 g · Monounsaturated Fats: 17 g · Trans Fats: 1 g · Ldl cholesterol: 222 mg · Sodium: 849 mg · Potassium: 521 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 6 g · Vitamin A: 177 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 25 mg · Iron: 2 mg
Editor’s Be aware: The publish was initially revealed on March 22, 2012. It was up to date with a revised recipe, new photos, and extra useful data on April 14, 2024. It was republished with a brand new video on Might 31, 2024.
