Best Japanese Chicken Recipes

JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE HIBACHI CHICKEN AND STEAK WITH VEGTABLES

Steps:

• Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add the 2 Cups rice and remove form heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Then remove cover and let stand 5 minutes for rice to absorb remaining water.
• While waiting for the water to boil and rice to simmer, add all the ingredients for the white sauce in a medium bowl, whisk together and chill covered until ready to serve.
• Hibachi Chicken or Steak: Slice the meat and vegetables into bite size pieces. Spread 1 Tb vegetable oil in 2 separate large skillets over medium high heat. Now in one large skillet, melt 1 TB butter and then add 1 TB soy sauce and the chicken or steak and saute over medium/high heat and add a dash of salt and pepper. Stir often.
• In the other large skillet, add portions of the bite sized vegetables (onion and zucchini, not mushrooms) with 1 TB butter, 2 TB soy sauce, dash salt and pepper. (1 TB butter, 2 TB soy sauce, dash salt and pepper for each 1 to 2 cup portion, or unless the portions are small use like 1/2 the ingredients). Cook each portion for about 7 to 8 minutes or until desired tenderness. Cook in portions unless you have a hibachi grill or large enough skillet to cook all the vegetables at once. Stir occasionally. I'm usually cooking for 6 so I have to cook portions separately or else half the vegetables will end up being over cooked while the other half is not cooked at all. Once you've made this recipe more than once you will be able to cook more at a time, just don't overwhelm yourself.
• When the chicken (add a little lemon juice at the end) or steak is done, add mushrooms and 1 TB butter, 1 TB soy sauce or more if you have decided to cook a lot of mushrooms.
• Continue to stir both pans.
• Spoon the vegetables into even portions onto everyone's plates, and the meat into even portions then use one of the meat or vegetable's now empty skillet for the rice.
• Toss the scrambled eggs, grated carrots, peas, diced onion with the cooked rice and melt about 1 1/2 or 2 TB butter in the skillet and spoon (slotted spoon) the rice mixture over into the skillet with melted butter, frying it over medium high heat. Add soy sauce and salt and pepper. Cook for about 8 or so minutes stirring as often as you can to keep rice from burning.
• Serve in even portions to everyone's plates.
• Serve white/orange dipping sauce as you'd like. In my family we use generous amounts over the entire plate.

OYAKODON (JAPANESE CHICKEN AND EGG RICE BOWL)

Steps:

• Rinse the rice in 3 to 4 changes of water until the rinse water is almost clear, and drain off the rinse water. Bring the rice and 4 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Place the chicken in a nonstick skillet with a lid, and cook and stir over medium heat until the chicken is no longer pink inside and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the onion, and cook and stir until the onion is soft, about 5 more minutes. Pour in the stock, and whisk in soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, and let simmer until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk the eggs in a bowl until well-beaten, and pour over the chicken and stock. Cover the skillet, reduce heat, and allow to steam for about 5 minutes, until the egg is cooked. Remove from heat.
• To serve, place 1 cup of cooked rice per bowl into 4 deep soup bowls, top each bowl with 1/4 of the chicken and egg mixture, and spoon about 1/2 cup of soup into each bowl.

KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• In a shallow baking dish large enough to hold the chicken, combine ginger, garlic, sake, soy sauce and sugar. Toss chicken pieces in marinade to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.
• Fill an aluminum or thin stainless steel pot (best for quick temperature adjustments), with sides at least 5 inches tall, with about 3 inches of peanut oil. Heat the oil to 350 degrees. Place several layers of newsprint or paper towels on a sheet pan.
• While the oil heats, place a wire rack over a second sheet pan. In a bowl, combine potato starch, salt and pepper. Remove one piece of chicken at a time from marinade, and tuck in any jagged bits or skin as you roll it in starch mixture to coat. Rest it on the rack. Repeat with all chicken pieces.
• Gently shake off excess potato starch before cooking each piece of chicken. Fry 3 or 4 pieces at a time, keeping oil temperature around 325 degrees (temperature will fall when you add chicken) and no lower than 300 degrees. Fry for about 3 minutes, or until golden. Remove from oil using a wire-mesh spoon or long chopsticks, and cool on newsprint or paper towels.
• When all the chicken has been fried once, increase the oil's temperature to 375 degrees. Fry chicken pieces a second time, keeping the oil between 350 and 375 degrees, until the crust is deep golden brown, about 1 minute. Drain on newsprint or paper towels. This second frying makes the coating stay extra crisp, even if you don't serve it immediately.
• Serve hot or at room temperature, with a lemon wedge, and lettuce and cucumber slices for a cool, fresh contrast, if you like.

CHICKEN KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, sake, and ginger in a large bowl. Add chicken; turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator, about 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place cornstarch in a large resealable plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag and toss until chicken is coated with cornstarch.
• Fry chicken in batches until juices run clear and it is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels or on a wire rack.

YAKITORI (JAPANESE CHICKEN SKEWERS)

Steps:

• Marinade: Smash and peel garlic cloves, then place in a small saucepan. Slice unpeeled ginger into coins (about 5 slices); add to the saucepan, followed by the mirin, soy sauce, and honey. Over medium-high heat, bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent honey from burning; allow to simmer for about 1 minute. Set aside to cool by placing into a large skillet filled with cold water.
• Trim root ends from scallions; then cut the white and light green parts into 1-inch pieces. (Reserve green stalks for garnish.) Set aside. Slice each chicken thigh into 4 equal pieces. If using skewers, thread the chicken pieces onto the skewers, alternating with pieces of scallion.
• Place skewers on a rimmed baking sheet and pour marinade to coat chicken and scallions. Marinate for at least 30 minutes (and up to 3-4 hours), flipping the skewers in the marinade every 5-7 minutes. (Note: Chicken can be marinated the day before and stored, covered, in the refrigerator overnight.) While chicken marinates, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat grill pan over high heat, 5-10 minutes (time will vary, depending on pan). Reserving the marinade, place chicken skewers on the hot grill and cook for 2-3 minutes; place a heavy plate or skillet on the chicken and press down to create grill marks. Flip skewers and repeat, 2-3 more minutes. Place the chicken, still in the grill pan, in the oven and bake, 10 minutes. Meanwhile, finish the sauce.
• Pour the marinade back into a saucepan and add the miso. Bring to a boil (which will kill off any bacteria from the raw chicken) and reduce slightly, 15 minutes. Meanwhile, remove grill pan from oven and transfer skewers to a plate. When the sauce has reduced, brush it over the chicken. Slice reserved scallion greens and sprinkle over the skewers before serving.

OYAKODON (JAPANESE CHICKEN AND EGG RICE BOWL)

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine dashi, sake, mirin, soy sauce and sugar; stir to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
• Heat a small (6- or 7-inch) nonstick (or well-seasoned carbon steel) slope-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the skin side of each piece of chicken until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes (meat will still be mostly raw). Transfer to a cutting board, skin-side down. Dice into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces.
• Cook chicken and egg in two batches: In a small bowl, beat two eggs until yolks and whites are broken, but still distinct. Return skillet to medium-high heat, wiping out any excess grease. Add half the sliced onions and half the sauce (about 1/3 cup), and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until onions just begin soften. Add half the cut-up chicken; simmer for another 1 to 3 minutes, stirring, until chicken is white on the outside.
• Pour about half of the beaten eggs around the pan; let cook undisturbed for 30 seconds. Add the rest of the beaten eggs, and half the mitsuba or scallion. Adjust heat to low, and cook 20 seconds longer. Cover pan with a lid or foil and remove from heat. After a minute, uncover pan; eggs should be wobbly, but not raw (if they need more cooking, return the covered pan briefly to the heat).
• Carefully slide egg, chicken and sauce onto a bowl of cooked rice, trying to keep the mixture from flipping over. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 with remaining ingredients. Serve with shichimi togarashi, if desired.

JAPANESE-STYLE DEEP FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together eggs, salt, pepper, sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, and bouillon. Add chicken pieces, and stir to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Remove bowl from refrigerator, add potato starch and rice flour to meat, and mix well.
• In a large skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Place chicken in hot oil, and fry until golden brown. Cook meat in batches to maintain oil temperature. Drain briefly on paper towels. Serve hot.

JAPANESE CHICKEN WINGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut wings in half, dip in egg and coat with flour.
• Heat butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Fry wings until deep brown. Place in a shallow roasting pan.
• In a small bowl combine soy sauce, water, sugar, vinegar, garlic powder and salt. Pour over wings.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, basting wings with sauce often.

JAPANESE CURRY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large, deep skillet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Add 1/3 cup water to the pan, cover, and cook over medium heat until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes.
• While chicken is cooking, pour 2 cups water into a microwave-safe bowl. Break curry sauce mix into pieces and add to water. Heat in the microwave on high for 3 1/2 minutes; remove and stir until sauce mix has completely dissolved.
• Remove chicken from the skillet. Cut into cubes, return to the skillet, and pour curry sauce over top. Stir in peas, potatoes, mushrooms, carrots, and onion. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring remaining water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and water has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Scoop rice into bowls and serve curry on top.

JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN (CHICKEN KARAAGE)

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken, cut off any excess fat and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper. Using a sharp knife, score the chicken, especially in fibrous parts of the meat. Use the point of the knife to poke small holes in the chicken, then cut the chicken in bite-size (1 1/2-inch) pieces.
• In a mixing bowl combine the chicken, sake, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well, rubbing the marinade into the chicken. Marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Add the egg slowly to the chicken while mixing with your hands. Add the cornstarch and lightly toss to coat the chicken. In a medium saucepan heat the vegetable oil over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer reads 335 degrees F. Fry the chicken, a few pieces at a time, until golden brown, about 10 minutes (the internal temperature of the meat should be 165 degrees F). Shake off any excess grease. Cool and reserve the oil for another use. Plate the chicken and garnish with lemon wedges to serve.

ONE-POT JAPANESE CURRY CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Rub chicken with 1 tablespoon oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil with 1 tablespoon butter over medium until butter is melted. Working in two batches, brown chicken 3 to 4 minutes per side, and transfer to a plate.
• Add onion to the pot, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until softened, 2 minutes. Add curry powder, garlic, ginger, nutmeg and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, and stir until butter is melted and spices are fragrant, 1 minute.
• Add rinsed rice and stir until evenly coated in spices. Add potato, carrots, broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping bottom of pot to lift up any browned bits. Season broth generously with salt and pepper. Arrange chicken (and any accumulated juices) on top, skin-side up, and bring to a boil over high. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until most of the liquid is absorbed and chicken is golden and cooked through, about 10 minutes longer.
• Divide chicken and rice among bowls, and garnish with scallions. Serve with any combination of pickles, kimchi and hot sauce.

KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Mix garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sake, mirin, sesame oil, black pepper, cayenne, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Place chicken in the marinade and mix until thoroughly and evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 10 hours.
• Set up your dredging station: Place a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet. Add potato starch to a wide, shallow bowl.
• Remove chicken from the refrigerator. Stir to coat with marinade. Toss 2 or 3 pieces at a time in the potato starch until evenly coated. Shake off any excess starch and place chicken on the wire rack. Repeat to dredge remaining pieces.
• Tap the rack on the baking sheet to remove any loose chunks of starch, then transfer the baking sheet and rack of chicken to the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Without crowding, lower chicken carefully into the hot oil in batches. Fry, tossing occasionally, until cooked through and the outside is crunchy and browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken.

BEST COPYCAT BENIHANA JAPANESE CHICKEN RICE

Steps:

• The rice could be pre-cooked the night before and stored in fridge or cook the rice using package directions -- Note: double the water per each cup of uncooked rice. For this recipe you would use 4 cups of water and 2 cups of uncooked rice, pinch of salt and once you bring it to a boil, turn the heat down and cook for 20 minutes covered. You must spread the rice out after it is cooked in a shallow pan and cool it off in the fridge (or freezer if you have room). Needs to be at room temperature or cooler.
• Make your garlic and butter compound. Put softened butter in a bowl large enough to allow you to mix the garlic into the butter. Needs to be well blended. Use a potato masher to mash the butter or use a hand mixer if you wish. Peel garlic by hitting each clove with the side of a knife being careful and keep sharp end of knife away from you. It is now easy to peel and you will do this with both cloves (or 1 if you want less of a garlic flavor) and then finely mince. After garlic is minced you will use the side of the knife and run the side of the blade in each direction to mash the garlic. You want to make a paste out of the garlic. Add the garlic to the butter and mix really well. Keep the bowl on the counter ready for use.
• Wash and dry your chicken breast and cube it into small bite size pieces.
• Dice your onion. Thinly cut the greens on the green onion.
• Scramble the eggs in a frying pan with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Then cut the cooked eggs into small pieces and put aside.
• In a large frying pan or a wok add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and cook the onion on medium heat for 5 minutes stirring often. You just want it soft and don't burn it. Now add your cubed chicken and stir often. You don't want to burn the chicken but a little color is fine. Add some salt and pepper to taste. Cook chicken about 5-7 minutes on medium heat. It will cook fast because it is cubed small. Add 1 tablespoon of the garlic butter compound. Add the peas, carrots, and green onions. Cook for 5 minutes or until just tender. (you can taste a carrot to test for desired taste) Do not overcook. Stir often. Leave in pan.
• Add 2 tablespoons of garlic butter compound and add the rice a handful at a time. Carefully stir everything together and keep adding rice until all the rice is added and well mixed together. At this time add 1 more tablespoons of the garlic butter compound. Cook rice for 5-7 minutes stirring often. Add the cooked eggs, stir well carefully. Now add your soy sauce. Mix well to distribute evenly. Add remaining salt and pepper to taste.
• If you wish to add the toasted sesame seeds do so now and stir and serve. Since we used sesame oil in the recipe the seeds are optional.

JAPANESE POPCORN CHICKEN (KARAAGE) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Combine the chicken with the garlic, ginger, soy, sake, sesame oil, and sugar in a bowl until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a pot over high heat until about 340°F (170°C).
• Give the chicken a stir to re-incorporate the marinade, then sprinkle the potato starch on top. Lightly toss until somewhat combined, but do not mix until each chicken piece is evenly coated because the uneven pockets of potato starch will give the chicken its signature unique texture.
• Fry half of the chicken at a time, until light golden and bubbly, about 5-7 minutes. The oil temperature will drop to about 320°F (160°C). Rest the chicken on paper towels and increase the heat.
• Heat oil to about 390°F (200°C), then fry the chicken again for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Drain the chicken on paper towels.
• Serve with lemon and parsley.
• Enjoy!

EASY JAPANESE-INSPIRED GRILLED MISO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix miso, mirin, rice wine, soy sauce, and honey together in a bowl until miso is completely dissolved. Stir in garlic and ginger.
• Pour marinade into a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Turn the bag or mix chicken to ensure even distribution of marinade. Refrigerate and allow to marinade 8 hours or overnight, mixing or turning the bag occasionally.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Cook chicken on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 4 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Remove from the grill and chop into wide strips, approximately 4 to 5 slices per piece. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

KARAAGE (JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN) WITH HONEY MAYOSTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix 1 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, garlic, and ginger together in a bowl. Add chicken; turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.
• Whisk egg in a bowl until smooth.
• Pour panko bread crumbs into a shallow bowl. Dip chicken pieces in whisked egg and roll in panko until coated.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cook chicken in batches in the hot oil until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
• Mix Japanese mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons honey, Dijon mustard, mirin, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce together to make sauce. Pour sauce over chicken.

YAKITORI ( JAPANESE GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS)

Steps:

• Bring yakitori sauce to a boil for 5 min then set aside.
• thread the chicken alternately with the green onions onto the skewers.
• grill chicken in a preheated griller, turning every now and then and basting at the same time to keep it moist. drippings can be returned to baste the chicken until it is cooked.
• baste the yakitori again and serve with left over sauce.

JAPANESE CHICKEN AND ROOT VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, soak dried mushrooms in water overnight at room temperature. (Alternatively, you can cover mushrooms with hot water and let soak for 2 hours.)
• Remove mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid. Slice off stems and discard them. Cut the caps into 1/4-inch pieces.
• Place kombu in a large pot, add mushrooms and their soaking liquid, and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Meanwhile, make a drop lid (called an otoshibuta in Japanese) by folding foil into a round just smaller than the pot. Poke a few holes in the drop lid with a chopstick or knife.
• As soon as liquid boils, remove kombu and discard or save to reuse. Add chicken, taro, radish, carrot, sake, soy sauce, sugar and salt to the pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, place drop lid directly on top of cooking vegetables and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes.
• Remove chicken from the pot and set aside. Add sweet potato to the pot, cover pot again with drop lid, and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes, until vegetables are cooked through but not mushy.
• Meanwhile, shred cooled chicken and divide among four bowls. Stir rice wine vinegar into stew, along with salt to taste, then ladle it into the bowls with the chicken. Garnish with sansho powder or shichimi togarashi and serve.

JAPANESE CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN - KARA-AGE

Steps:

• Cut chicken in bite size pieces. In a plastic container or large ziploc bag, combine grated ginger, garlic, soy sauce and Sake.
• Put the chicken in the marinade and mix chicken well. Put the chicken in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a deep frying pan or a wok, heat vegetable oil to 180 degree Celsius or 350°F
• Dust the chicken with potato starch and fry in the oil until golden. To make them really crispy, lift chicken from the oil with chopsticks or tongs from time to time so that the chicken will be aired out (so to speak).

JAPANESE MUM'S CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a saucepan over a high heat.
• Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Remove any scum that rises to the surface.
• Increase the heat, turning the drumsticks frequently in the liquid, and cook until the liquid has reduced to a sticky glaze.
• Arrange the chicken on a serving platter, remove the garlic clove and chili from the liquid, and spoon the glaze over.
• NOTE It's a glaze rather than a sauce, so there's not a whole lot of it.