ItŌĆÖs grilling season, and if you love a simple fare of enjoying the juiciest meat and freshest vegetables, you need to try this Japanese BBQ or Yakiniku (ńä╝Ķéē). The concept of yakiniku is simple and communal. You set a portable grill or iron plate in the middle of the table, and everyone cooks and eats the meat and vegetables together. Yes, it shares the same notion as hot pot, where good food brings people in an intimate setting, sharing laughter and having a good time, only this is for BBQ. Now, let me show you how to serve and enjoy the most amazing spread of yakiniku at home!
What is Yakiniku?
Yakiniku (ńä╝Ķéē) literally means “grilled meat” and refers to Japanese barbecue dish, in which meat and vegetables are dipped in sauce and eaten while being grilled. Originally from the Korean BBQ culture, yakiniku restaurants were founded in 1946, most of which were founded by Koreans living in Japan. Then, in the 50s, cooking yakiniku at home became popular with a new yakiniku sauce, or “yakiniku no tare” released by Ebara Foods. I remember the TV commercial of the sauce and had enjoyed that taste of it as yakiniku was our frequent weekend rotation meal growing up.
Why YouŌĆÖll Love This Japanese BBQ
Minimal prepping! I wanted to mention this first because it’s seriously one of the easiest BBQ recipes to make. You as the main host just need to cut the ingredients and set the table. So fun and social. This has to be the most unique feature of throwing a yakiniku party at home. Everyone is their own grill master, sharing the joy of cooking and savoring the food at once! Food tastes better this way too! Versatile. Whether you are gluten-free, vegan, or pescatarian, there are ways to implement all kinds of diets when it comes to grilling food. Also, you can do it outdoors or indoors.
How to Make Yakiniku At Home
The Ingredients You’ll Need
Protein: We typically use different cuts of beef and pork, but feel free to work with what you can find. Be sure to cut your meat into thin slices or bite-sized pieces. Use tofu if you are vegetarian/vegan. Vegetables: All kinds of fresh produce that you would like to grill. Keep in mind that some of the root vegetables may need to be cooked slightly (quick microwaving for 1-2 minutes would do!) to speed up the grilling process. More about this below. Mushrooms: I love grilling different types of mushrooms. They grill fast and absorb all the delicious yakiniku sauce well. Homemade Yakiniku Sauce: soy sauce, sugar, gochujang, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds.
The Cooking Steps
Yakiniku Cooking Tips
How to Choose the Best Yakiniku Beef
Personally, I don’t need to eat a lot of meat, but I look for high-quality, well-marbled beef when it comes to yakiniku. A Korean grocery chain, H-Mart, in San Francisco carries Snake River Farm’s American Wagyu Beef that’s thinly sliced perfect for grilling, like yakiniku-style. As you can see from the picture above, the marbling and fat content is slightly different from the packages, so do “study” the meat before you pick. My children and I prefer the bottom right, less fatty one, while Mr. JOC would go for top left or right package. From observing different Asian grocery stores around my area, I learned that Korean and Japanese grocery stores carry similar cuts and quality meat. If the meat is not well-marbled, it is very chewy and hard to eat. Since it contains quite a bit of fat in the meat, you probably don’t need to buy/eat as much.
What Kinds of Vegetables and Mushrooms to Grill
You can grill pretty much anything, as long as you can imagine barbecuing them. Maybe not beets or cucumber, although there are probably grilled beets and cucumber recipes out there. I usually include kabocha squash, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, green cabbage, sweet onion wedges, shishito peppers, and Japanese mushrooms like shiitake and king oyster. What kind of vegetables and mushrooms you like to grill? Comment below and share your cooking tip with us!
Delicious Yakiniku Sauce
Since we don’t need to season or marinate the ingredients at all, the grilled meat and vegetables are brought to the next level by this sweet and savory yakiniku sauce. You can find ready-made yakiniku sauce at the grocery store, but it’s worth making your own! It’s so simple and delicious that you know it can’t be beat. Check out my Yakiniku Sauce recipe to learn how else to use this versatile sauce.
What to Serve with Yakiniku
Rice – Japanese Corn Rice or a simple Garlic Fried Rice Soup – Japanese Glass Noodle Soup and Cold Miso Soup Salad and Sides – Fresh Kimchi, Spinach Namul and Bean Sprout Namul, Spicy Bean Sprout Salad, and Sunomono (Japanese Cucumber Salad)
Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe
Iwatani Butane Gas Stove – It’s a must-have for hot pot recipes in winter! Iwatani Aburi Stove Top Grill Pan – You will also need the Iwatani portable stove to put on top. It’s designed to drain fat and grease. I recommend grilling outdoors or patio setting. Zojirushi Electric Griddle – If you prefer to use an electric skillet, this is one I use along with a Takoyaki plate.
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