Tsukune is a Japanese chicken meatball which is basted in a sweet and salty glaze. The make a great appetizer or snack. These Japanese Grilled Chicken Meatballs are broiled and not actually grilled. They are easy to make and easy to eat!
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Yields: 4 - 6 Servings
Ingredients
1 cup soy sauce, preferably Japanese
1 cup mirin
1⁄4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons mizuame (Japanese sugar candy)
2 pounds ground chicken
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch scallions, trimmed and minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
vegetable oil, for greasing
Directions
1In a medium saucepan, bring the soy sauce, mirin, and sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced by one-third, about 20 minutes. Stir in the mizuame and cook until the mizuame dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the glaze cool.
2In a large bowl, mix the ground chicken with the salt, pepper, scallions, and ginger until thoroughly combined.
3Form the meat into 20 oblong meatballs, about 1½ ounces each, and place the meatballs on a lightly greased foil-lined baking sheet.
4Heat the broiler and broil the meatballs, turning and basting every 2 minutes with the glaze, until the meatballs are cooked through and dark golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve while hot.
Recipe by Dan Holzman and Matt Rodbard, Saveur Magazine, February 19, 2016