Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs) Recipe

Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs) Recipe

  • Teriyaki Sauce:
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup tamari
  • 1/4 cup cooking sake
  • 1/4 cup mirin
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • Meatballs:
  • 10 1/2 ounces ground chicken
  • 1 egg
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 1/2 carrot, grated
  • 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons red miso paste, or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon potato starch
  • 1 tablespoon crumbled seaweed
  • 1 tablespoon tamari, or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cooking sake, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground paprika, or more to taste
  1. Heat oil in a small pot over low heat. Add 1 teaspoon ginger and garlic; cook and stir until slightly browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup tamari, 1/4 cup sake, mirin, brown sugar, and sesame seeds; simmer until glaze is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Combine ground chicken, egg, green onions, carrot, bread crumbs, miso, 2 tablespoons ginger, potato starch, seaweed, 1 tablespoon tamari, 1 tablespoon sake, soy sauce, white sugar, and paprika in a large bowl; mix well into a thick paste, at least 5 minutes.
  3. Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
  4. Roll ground chicken mixture into balls the size of your palm. Flatten them slightly into patties. Grill until well-browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and continue grilling until browned on the second side, 2 to 3 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
  5. Brush glaze over meatballs before serving.