- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup dry sake
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, plus more, for seasoning
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken or turkey, preferably dark meat
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic (1 small clove)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Thinly sliced scallion greens
- Steamed rice (optional)
- In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, sake, sugar and vinegar and bring to a boil. Boil over high heat until thickened to a glaze, 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and season with a fresh splash of vinegar, if you like.
- Preheat the grill for at least 10 minutes, preparing to grill over moderately high heat, and soak 8 double-pronged bamboo skewers or 16 single skewers in water.
- In a bowl, use your hands to mix together all of the ingredients except for the sesame seeds and scallion greens.
- Form the meat mixture into 16 meatballs. Thread the meatballs onto the skewers, leaving just a little space in between and flatten slightly.
- Oil the grates well and grill the meatball skewers until light grill marks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and grill for 2 minutes longer, until the outside of the meatballs looks cooked.
- Brush the sauce over the meatballs, flip and brush the other side. Flip them and brush them with the sauce constantly for about 1 minute, until glazed and cooked through. If the sauce darkens too quickly, reduce the heat or move the skewers to a cooler part of the grill.
- Transfer the skewers to a platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced scallions. Serve over rice, if desired.