Yuzu Kosho Chicken
Pan-fried chicken with a bright, peppery yuzu kosho glaze.
Ingredients
- 400 g Chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp Yuzu kosho
- 2 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu)
- 2 tbsp Mirin
- 1 tbsp Neutral oil
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Whisk the yuzu kosho, soy, and mirin together in a small bowl to make the glaze.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat and lay the chicken skin-side down. Sear without moving it until the skin is deep golden and crisp.
- Flip the chicken and cook through on the second side until the juices run clear.
- Pour in the glaze and spoon it over the chicken until it reduces and clings glossily.
- Slice the chicken, scatter with scallion, and serve with rice.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Yuzu Kosho Chicken
Yuzu kosho chicken is a quick Japanese pan-fry built around yuzu kosho, a fermented paste of chili, salt, and the fragrant rind of the yuzu citrus that is a staple condiment in Kyushu cooking. Chicken thighs are seared skin-side down until crisp, then finished in a glaze of the yuzu kosho whisked with soy and mirin. The paste does a lot of work for its size, delivering heat, salt, and an unmistakable floral citrus aroma in one spoonful.
What defines the dish is that bright, peppery glaze against rich, crisp-skinned thigh meat — the mirin and soy give sweetness and depth while the yuzu kosho cuts through with its tingling, aromatic bite. Searing the skin undisturbed until deeply golden before flipping is the step that guarantees crackle rather than flab, and reducing the glaze at the end lets it cling glossily to the meat. Sliced and scattered with scallion over rice, it is a fast, high-protein weeknight main that tastes far more composed than its twenty minutes suggest, and it makes a persuasive case for keeping a jar of yuzu kosho in the fridge.
Yuzu Kosho Chicken: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Yuzu Kosho Chicken?
A serving has about 544 calories — 34.6g protein, 4.6g carbs, 40.2g fat, 0.3g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 34.6g of protein, roughly 25% of its calories.
Is Yuzu Kosho Chicken 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.
Do I need every ingredient to make Yuzu Kosho Chicken?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Yuzu Kosho Chicken make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.