Negima Skewers
Chicken and leek skewers glazed in tare.
Ingredients
- 500 g Chicken thighs
- 2 Japanese leek (negi)
- 4 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu)
- 3 tbsp Mirin
- 2 tbsp Sake
- 2 tbsp Sugar
Method
- Cut the chicken and Japanese leek into bite-size pieces and thread them alternately onto skewers.
- Simmer the soy, mirin, sake, and sugar in a small pan until reduced to a glossy tare, about 8 minutes.
- Grill the skewers, turning and brushing with the tare, until caramelised and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Serve with the last of the tare brushed over.
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About Negima Skewers
Negima skewers are one of the most beloved varieties of Japanese yakitori, alternating bite-size pieces of chicken thigh with sections of negi, the mild, sweet Japanese leek. Threading the two together is the whole idea: as the skewers grill, the leek softens and turns sweet and slightly smoky, and its juices mingle with the juicy, well-marbled thigh meat so each bite gives you both. The glaze is tare, a glossy sauce simmered from soy, mirin, sake, and sugar until it reduces to a syrupy, savory-sweet coat that lacquers the skewers as they cook.
Building the tare from scratch and reducing it until glossy is what gives these skewers their deep, caramelized sheen and their balance of salty and sweet. Basting repeatedly while grilling layers the glaze so it builds up and chars at the edges, which is the hallmark of good yakitori. High in protein and low in carbs, negima is classic izakaya fare, the sort of thing eaten off the stick with a cold drink, and it works equally well as an appetizer or as part of a larger spread. Brushing the last of the tare over just before serving gives a final hit of shine and flavor.
Negima Skewers: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Negima Skewers?
A serving has about 349 calories — 22.6g protein, 11.3g carbs, 21g fat, 0.7g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Negima Skewers gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How many servings does Negima Skewers make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.