Recreating the Flavors of Asia’s Street Vendors: Maple and Soy Glazed Chicken Skewers

Street vendors in East Asia are known for their delicious meat skewers cooked over hot coals with a sweet and savory sauce. The sauce thickens to a glaze and the meat cooks quickly, making it a popular and flavorful street food. At Milk Street, we have recreated this dish in an easy and convenient way for weeknight dinners.

Instead of grilling the skewers outdoors, we use the broiler for controlled heat. The broiler chars the meat on the skewers while allowing the sauce to caramelize. The result is a delicious combination of smoky flavors and juicy meat.

Our savory-sweet chicken skewers, inspired by Japanese yakitori, are made with just six ingredients. We use a marinade, basting sauce, and finishing sauce to layer on the flavors. Maple syrup adds complexity to the glaze, while freshly grated ginger balances the sweetness of the soy sauce glaze.

These chicken skewers are perfect served with rice and a crunchy slaw, or you can turn them into a sandwich or wrap with shredded vegetables and mayonnaise. To make cleanup easier, you can line the baking sheet with foil.

Maple and soy glazed chicken skewers

Start to finish: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

½ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger OR 3 medium garlic cloves, finely grated OR both
2 tablespoons neutral oil
¼ cup maple syrup
1½ teaspoons sherry vinegar OR cider vinegar
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, halved lengthwise
Sesame seeds, toasted OR thinly sliced scallions OR both

Directions:

1. Stir together the soy sauce, ginger, and oil. In another bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of this mixture with the maple syrup and vinegar.

2. Toss the chicken with the remaining soy mixture.

3. Preheat the broiler with a rack 4 inches from the element. Scrunch the chicken onto metal skewers and place them on a rimmed baking sheet.

4. Broil the chicken until well browned, about 12 minutes, flipping once.

5. Brush the chicken lightly with the soy-maple mixture and broil until lightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

6. Brush the chicken with the remaining soy-maple mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Enjoy these delicious maple and soy glazed chicken skewers!

Get more recipes and dinner ideas from Globeblognews food section.