Yakitori

Yakitori being grilled

Several yakitories in food court areas

Yakitori (焼き鳥, やきとり, ヤキトリ), grilled chicken, is commonly a Japanese type of skewered chicken. The term "yakitori" can also refer to skewered food in general. Kushiyaki (skewer grilled), is a formal term that encompasses both poultry and non-poultry items, skewered and grilled. Both yakitori and kushiyaki mean the same, so the terms are used interchangeably in Japanese society.

Preparation

The average yakitori is made from several bite-sized pieces of chicken meat, or chicken offal, skewered on a bamboo skewer and grilled, usually over Binchōtan charcoal.

Diners ordering yakitori usually have a choice of having it cooked with salt (shio) or with tare sauce, which is generally made up of mirin, sake, soy sauce and sugar. The sauce is applied to the skewered meat and is grilled until delicately cooked.

• momo (もも), chicken thigh
• tsukune (つくね), chicken meatballs
• (tori)kawa ((とり)かわ) chicken skin, grilled until crispy
• tebasaki (手羽先), chicken wing
• bonjiri (ぼんじり), chicken tail
• shiro (シロ),　chicken small intestines
• nankotsu (なんこつ), chicken cartilage
• hāto　/ hatsu (ハート / ハツ) or kokoro (こころ), chicken heart
• rebā (レバー), liver
• sunagimo (砂肝), or zuri (ずり) chicken gizzard
• toriniku, all white meat on skewer

File:Yakitori assorted.jpg

Kawa (chicken skin), yamaimo, and shishitō yakitori skewers

Common non-poultry dishes

• ikada (筏) (lit. raft), Japanese scallion, with two skewers to prevent rotation
• gyūtan (牛タン), beef tongue, sliced thinly
• atsuage tōfu (厚揚げとうふ), thicker variety of deep-fried tofu
• enoki maki (エノキ巻き), enoki mushrooms wrapped in slices of pork
• pīman (ピーマン), green bellpepper
• asuparabēkon (アスパラベーコン), asparagus wrapped in bacon
• butabara (豚ばら), pork belly
• ninniku (にんにく）garlic
• shishito (獅子唐) Japanese pepper

See also

• Brochette
• Japanese cuisine
• Satay

References

• Ono, Tadashi; Salat Harris (2011). The Japanese Grill: From Classic Yakitori to Steak, Seafood, and Vegetables. Ten Speed Press. ISBN 9781580087377

External links

• Japan Guide
• Everyday Japanese Cuisine