Yakitori-Style Salmon With Scallions and Zucchini Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Tj

Maybe I missed the obvious, but why are we heating a lightly greased cast-iron griddle pan in Step 3? Do we set this pan on the grill and cook in it, or are we cooking straight on the grill since it's skewers?

Barbara

Does turbinado sugar really make a difference compared to regular granulated sugar? I use very little sugar, so I'd rather not keep several types in stock.

nb

I made this for dinner tonight, and I think I'm usually a good cook, but this was shockingly good - I felt like I was eating a restaurant quality meal. I did use brown sugar, and I cooked under the broiler (~12 min for the veg, ~8 for the salmon) because I didn't feel like getting the grill going and I don't have a grill pan or cast iron skillet. Made everything else as directed. The sauce in particular is amazing. Served with rice. Will definitely make again.

Harvey in Oakland

I make yakitori on my Weber a lot and I use a trick from Steven Raichlens Barbeque Bible. Use two flat bricks (like pavers) on the grill with a 4 or 5 inch space between them. Lay skewers on them and they'll get direct heat but won't touch the grate and sticking problems will be greatly reduced.

April

OR. The word all the pan-wonderers here missed is OR. Heat your grill or a cast iron pan. Carry on.

question about your method with this recipe

Thanks for asking the question about turbinado sugar. I just looked it up and found the following, making me think we could substitute brown sugar."Turbinado sugar is partially refined sugar that retains some of the original molasses, giving it a subtle caramel flavor. It's made from sugarcane — a non-genetically modified crop, some of which is organically grown."

Ellen

When grilling with skewers, I use two rather than one to secure the fish and vegetables so they can be turned easily and nothing falls off the grill. Loved this recipe. Mouth-watering!

clayton

We made this a few days ago - this is delicious. We BBQ'd the salmon and veggies. The next time we make this, we will change:-With 2 tbsp Cornstarch, the sauce was quite thick (hard to baste with). Will cut down to 1.5 tbsp-We used Coho salmon, and BBQ time was 8 mins.-The green onions on the edges of the skewers charred quite a bit (if you don't want this much charring, sandwich them in between the zucchini).

Stacy VB

Turbinado sugar has flavor (or more flavor). You could sub in light brown sugar or add a touch of molasses to your white sugar to achieve a similar flavor.

Peggy Sue

what is the purpose of the cast iron griddle if you are putting everything on the grill? what am i missing here?

ANF

I am going to try this with maple syrup instead of turbinado sugar. My mom used to do this when making Teriyaki sauce and it melded nicely. May grill some onion too as many alliums are delicious when grilled. I'm looking at you, red onion partly cut in my fridge!

Peter

I was disappointed with the sauce. It was too thick to baste well or use as a condiment. Next time, I will halve the cornstarch and use mirin, sherry, or stock instead of the water to get a richer flavor and a better consistency.

Elisabeth

The sauce was great. Partway through I started to second-guess skewering the salmon -- mine was thick cut and skin-on and it seemed like it was going to be a disaster. I skewered just the zucchini and green onions and cooked the salmon as fillets, basting everything with the sauce and putting it all under the broiler. Presentation was pretty. Family really liked it but it was a lot of work for what it was. In the future I might make the sauce and broil the zucchini without skewers.

Colin Warwick

Interleave the salmon and veg. The onion flavors the salmon. They all cook in about the same time.

Harvey in Oakland

Try using two flat pavers on the grill with a space between them - about 4 or 5 inches. Lay skewers on pavers with the meat over the gap between them and exposed to direct heat. They'll cook nicely, the skewers won't turn to ash and the meat won't stick to the grate. I learned this from Steven Raichlens BBQ Bible.

lily

Hi gals!I don’t put on skewers any more, I just put on sheet pan. I add 1/4 cup orange juice to sauce. Finish salmon under the broiler

Christina

Love love loved this. I would recommend putting the chicken on one skewer and the zucchini on another so as not to overcook the zucchini or undercook the chicken. You must use a outdoor grill. Sauce is what makes this recipe sing!

Fiona Murphy

Too much cornstarch! It made the sauce gloopy. Try adding a little at a time to just give the sauce some body. About half a tablespoon worked for me.Otherwise made it as per the recipe and it was DELICIOUS.

Rochelle

Loved the flavor but had a heck of a time threading the zucchini. I used a mandoline for thin slices and when I tried to thread like ribbon candy (and the photo) a lot of them just snapped. Can anyone give me tips on how to thread so they don't break? Thanks in advance.

Rachel Barenblat

This is delicious. I've discovered that the frozen salmon filets I keep on hand from my local grocery chain aren't fabulous here (they work better in other preparations), but I'm going to try it next with slices of chicken thighs -- I feel certain this sauce and this zucchini preparation would be gorgeous with chicken yakitori.

august 2023

Salmon cubes flaked apart on the grill and fell off the sticks. It was rescued into a messy pile and finished off in a frying pan—still tasty but the kabobiness was gone. Veg yakatoris were great though.

Lisa D.

Are there any ways to lower the fat content? 45g fat seems really high.

Mindy

This is fantastic! I don’t use sugar, so I subbed maple syrup and they were out of salmon so I used steelhead. Absolutely fantastic!

sarah

Cut the zucchini into 1-inch chunks instead of thin slices. Used 1/4 cup white sugar. Excellent.

JustGrillingItOnThe206

If you just reduce the teriyaki sauce, there's no need for the cornstarch. Referring to the "gelatinous" comment, I agree. Especially the leftover sauce becomes clumpy on the fish or any other protein or veggies.

Claudia S.

I have a lot of tuna in my freezer, a gift from a fisherman friend. I'm going to try this recipe with tuna. Think it will be good?

gale

Heat a grill OR a cast iron griddle or grill pan. Note the word 'or'.The latter two are usually used on the stove top.

Wendy

I don’t use skewers at all. It takes 3 times as long to make dinner just threading them. The risk of food falling into the grill is always there. Nobody likes taking the grilled food off of them as the potential to fling your good food onto the deck or your guests is high. I use a hole-y grill pan or a sheet pan for everything and the flavors can mingle - no sticking problems. I have only recently discovered grilled scallions. I roast them with thin asparagus. Everyone happy!

Gina

This was absolutely delicious.

Stephanie

The whole family loves this dish. The first time I made it, I followed the recipe for the sauce. Delicious!!!! But every other time since, I cheated and bought a sauce at the store -- takes a little less time but also extremely tasty.

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Yakitori-Style Salmon With Scallions and Zucchini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes yakitori so good? ›

One fundamental of yakitori cuisine is the grill. While electric grills are available, charcoal is what gives yakitori its traditional, delicious smoky flavor. A traditional Japanese charcoal made from oak called "binchotan" is considered the best for yakitori.

What to have on the side of yakitori? ›

Serving Suggestions:

Follow with the yakitori skewers, starting with the classic chicken, moving on to the pork belly and shish*to pepper, and finally the tsukune meatballs. Offer a refreshing cucumber salad (sunomono) and Japanese rice balls (onigiri) on the side.

What is vegetable yakitori called? ›

In Japan, you can find yakitori being served at specialty restaurants called yakitori-ya (焼き鳥屋), or bars that serve small-plate food called izakaya (居酒屋). Occasionally, 'yakitori' may imply non-chicken skewered food. When it's grilled vegetables, we say Yaki Yasai (焼き野菜).

What is yakitori cooked on? ›

Yakitori (Japanese: 焼き鳥) (literally 'grilled bird') is a Japanese type of skewered chicken. Its preparation involves attaching the meat to a skewer, typically made of steel or bamboo, after which it is grilled over a charcoal fire.

What does yakitori mean in English? ›

Yakitori means “grilled bird,” as yakimono is often translated into English (yaki meaning grilled). Yakitori restaurants still exist today, serving these traditional Japanese favorites, but now you can find them pretty much anywhere around town!

What is the most popular yakitori? ›

Negima ねぎま

The fail-proof combination in a yakitori skewer, and the most popular order as well. The grilled leek is crunchy and full of flavour and perfectly matches the juiciness of the meat, which is usually thigh or breast.

What is the difference between teriyaki and yakitori sauce? ›

Is yakitori sauce the same as teriyaki? Yakitori and teriyaki sauce both have a base of soy sauce and sugar, however teriyaki sauce is made with ginger and garlic, giving it a slightly firerier flavour.

What is the best cut of meat for yakitori? ›

Mune, or chicken breast, is one of the most common cuts of chicken used for Japanese yakitori. It's a lean yet tender cut of chicken that's very healthy. You may also see the tenderloin cut of chicken breast, known as sasami, on a yakitori menu.

What is inside yakitori? ›

Yakitori (焼き鳥) are grilled chicken skewers made from bite sized pieces of meat from all different parts of the chicken, such as the breasts, thighs, skin, liver and other innards. Usually made to order and cooked over charcoal, yakitori is a popular, inexpensive dish commonly enjoyed together with a glass of beer.

How many yakitori sticks per person? ›

Yakitori can be ordered in plates containing enough for a specified number of people, or by individual skewers. A plate for a single person will have three to six skewers.

What is the difference between tempura and yakitori? ›

Tempura can be found in tempura restaurants, where it is often served with a side of tempura dipping sauce. Yakitori is skewered and grilled chicken, typically seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. It can be found in yakitori-ya (yakitori restaurants) and izakaya (Japanese pubs) all over Japan.

Can you buy yakitori sauce? ›

Kikkoman Yakitori Sauce - 250ml.

Is yakitori healthy? ›

Given that it is mainly chicken, yakitori is considered by many to be a relatively healthy dish as it is high in protein. However, depending on the cut of chicken used, each skewer can range anywhere from 8-75 calories plus.

What do you say before you eat in Japanese? ›

Before eating, Japanese people say "itadakimasu," a polite phrase meaning "I receive this food." This expresses thanks to whoever worked to prepare the food in the meal.

What does yakitori taste like? ›

What does chicken yakitori taste like? Japanese yakitori is classically cooked over small charcoal grills. Cooking over charcoal gives a slightly smoky flavour that's simply delicious. The sauce has a sweet and salty balance of flavours.

Why is yakitori important to Japanese culture? ›

This cheap but tasty version of chicken made via the popular skewering methods became a favorite. The rest is history as they say, and yakitori was cultivated to become a diverse variety of tastes and textures, becoming one of Japan's favorite snacks.

What is a fact about yakitori? ›

Yakitori street stalls first appeared in the middle of the Meiji period (1880s-90s). At the time, Shamo game fowl stew was popular in Japan. Such meat was expensive, so the stalls took the off-cuts and innards that came from restaurants, skewered them, and barbecued them, basting them with tare sauce.

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