Teriyaki

Teriyaki is a cooking style in which meat or fish is glazed with a shiny soy-based sauce. The result is savory, slightly sweet and lightly caramelized.

Teriyaki

22nd June 2012 Teriyaki Duck: Murcotipton, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

The word combines 'teri', meaning shine, and 'yaki', meaning grilled. Japanese cooks have long glazed fish this way, and teriyaki chicken became especially popular abroad.

Explore the cuisine of Japan.

Recipe

Make Teriyaki at home

Serves 4Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless chicken thighs, skin on
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
  • Sesame seeds and scallions
  • Steamed rice to serve

How it's made

  1. Stir together soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, ginger and garlic.
  2. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken skin side down until golden, 5-6 minutes.
  3. Flip and cook 4 minutes more.
  4. Pour in the sauce and simmer, spooning it over the chicken, until it thickens, about 4 minutes.
  5. Stir in the cornstarch mixture if you want a thicker glaze.
  6. Slice the chicken, spoon over the glaze, garnish and serve with rice.

Variations

  • Salmon teriyaki
  • Teriyaki beef with broccoli
  • Teriyaki burger

Cook’s tip: Add the sauce late in cooking; its sugar burns quickly over high heat.

Related dishes

Yakitori
YakitoriStreet food · Japan
Bulgogi
BulgogiMain dishes · South Korea
Tonkatsu
TonkatsuMain dishes · Japan
Sushi
SushiMain dishes · Japan
Japanese curry
Japanese curryMain dishes · Japan
About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • 22nd June 2012 Teriyaki Duck: Murcotipton, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)