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Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Delicious Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs) with a flavorful tare sauce, perfect for grilling.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course main dish
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 4 meatballs
Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

  • medium saucepan
  • grilling grate
  • skewers

Ingredients
  

For the Tare Sauce

  • ½ cup mirin
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup sake
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
  • 3 medium cloves garlic smashed and peeled
  • 3 scallions roughly chopped
  • 1 (1-inch) piece ginger sliced
  • 1 tablespoon whole black or white peppercorns

For the Meatballs

  • 1 ½ pounds ground chicken thighs
  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup finely chopped scallions
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh garlic about 2 medium cloves
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground white pepper

Instructions
 

For the Tare Sauce

  • Combine mirin, soy sauce, sake, brown sugar, sherry vinegar, garlic, scallions, ginger slices, and peppercorns in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer, whisk to combine, and cook until mixture is thick and syrupy, about 45 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer. Set aside or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

For the Meatballs

  • Using hands, mix together chicken, bread crumbs, scallions, egg, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, salt, and white pepper until thoroughly combined. Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs and thread onto skewers.

Grilling

  • Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread coals evenly over entire surface of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate. Carefully transfer skewers to grill, if necessary supporting meatballs from bottom to prevent them from falling off skewers. Grill until first side is well browned, about 3-4 minutes. Using tongs, rotate meatballs and cook until well browned on second side, about 2-3 minutes. Repeat for remaining two sides.
  • Brush tare sauce all over meatballs and allow to cook for 15-30 seconds longer. Transfer skewers to a plate or serving dish, brush lightly with sauce again and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

These delicious meatballs are best served hot off the grill with extra tare sauce on the side.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 22gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 300IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1.5mg
Keyword chicken skewers, easy recipe, grilled meatballs, Japanese chicken meatballs, tare sauce, Tsukune
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