The REAL Teriyaki Chicken

Isn't Teriyaki one of the most well-known Japanese food, next to Sushi?! Almost at any shopping mall food court, if there is a Japanese-style food stall, they have Teriyaki something in the menu. But PLEASE, please, please, do not think they are the REAL (authentic) Teriyaki!! I've seen so many people who say they love Japanese food, but it turned out that they love those food court Teriyaki whatever. Please everybody, the  food court Japanese food is soooo not real! I guess that can be said to any type of cuisine at the food court... but anyways, I just don't want people to mis-understand the Japanese food.

So, here is my recipe. Authentic, delicious, and SUPER easy. I make a big batch of it and freeze the left over for the later use.

Ingredients:
600g  Chicken thighs
For the Teriyaki Sauce: Combine 1TBS Japanese Soy Sauce, 2TBS Mirin* (please see below), 1TBS Sugar

*About "Mirin" :
Mirin is a sweet, golden yellow wine containing 40-50% sugar and approx 14% alcohol. Traditional, Mirin is made with glutinous rice, rice malt and distilled liquor.  Today, even in Japan, there are only a few places that brew Mirin in the traditional way. Today, most mirin is made from other sweetners, and they are usually labeled as "Mirin-fu" (=Mirin-like) or "Aji Mirin" (= Mirin flavored). However, it IS possible to find more of a traditional Mirin (Called "Hon-Mirin" meaning real mirin) in North America. I strongly recommend using the real kind!! They taste so much different from the lower quality ones. One I use is by Eden Foods. This is the closest one I can find so far, and I'm content with it.


1. Remove the fat from the chicken thighs.

2. Heat 1TBS vegetable oil on a frying pan on medium heat and fry the skin side of the chicken for about 4 minutes. Once the skin become crispy and brown, tun it over and fry the other side for about 3 minutes.

3. With paper towel, soak up and discard the excess fat / oil 'from the chicken. This step is important
because the teriyaki sauce will stick to the chicken better & it's healthier : )

4. Remove from the heat and pour the sauce over evenly. Bring back to the medium heat and simmer, flipping the chicken occasionally, until the sauce becomes thick.  Stop the heat and serve.  Garnish with chopped green onion and / or red pickled ginger. Enjoy!