Teriyaki Chicken

A sweet and savory classic that your kids will love!

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History and Facts

Fun fact: Did you know that teriyaki is a cooking technique, not just a sauce?

The term originates from Japan, and is the method of broiling or grilling meat with a glaze. The traditional teriyaki glaze is made of soy sauce, mirin (a type of Japanese cooking wine), and sugar. In Japan, teriyaki dishes are mainly cooked with fish, like yellowtail, marlin, and salmon. In the west, red meat and poultry is more commonly used.

Origins

The name teriyaki comes from the Japanese word "teri" which refers to the shininess given to the dish from the sauce, and "yaki" which refers to broiling or grilling. Food historians think that the teriyaki technique became popular in Japan in the 1700s during the Edo period. Some say that teriyaki came to the United States in the 1960s in Hawaii.

​Japan Facts

Official Name: Government of Japan

Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary Government

Capital: Tokyo

Population: 125.7 Million

Languages: Japanese

Currency: Japanese Yen

Tokyo, Japan, known for its bright colors and huge sprawling urban buildings! With a population of almost 14 million, Tokyo is one of the most populous cities in the world. Tokyo's population is so dense that if you replaced all the buildings with football fields, there would be 242 people on every football field!

Ingredient Highlight

Soy Sauce

Fun fact: Did you know that soy sauce is over 2,000 years old?

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The deliciously salty condiment originated in China during the Western Han dynasty. Today, it's used in a wide range of Asian cuisines. So how is soy sauce made?First, you have to make a paste of soybeans, roasted grains, brine (salty water or seawater), and a type of organism similar to yeast. The organisms help the paste ferment and take on a great flavor. After fermenting for months, the sauce is squeezed out of the paste and filtered. Then the sauce is heated to make sure it's safe to eat. Once this process is finished, the soy sauce is bottled and delivered across the world!

Traditional soy sauce fermentation urns.

Ginger

Garlic

Despite being a pretty simple recipe, teriyaki chicken has opened us to the super interesting history of its lesser known ingredients. We hope you enjoyed learning and enjoy the food!

Recipe

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 1 pound chicken breast, diced

• Rice or egg noodles (optional)

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon minced garlic

• 5 teaspoons honey or agave

• 1/2 cup orange juice

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/4 low sodium soy sauce

• 1/4 cup rice vinegar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Get your ingredients ready

2. Heat a heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, adding oil.

3. As your oil is heating, salt your minced chicken with salt and pepper.

4. Add chicken to your pan and brown for 3 minutes.

5. Add 1/4 cup of water and cover, steaming for 5-7 minutes.

6. As your chicken steams, mix together the orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, cornstarch, and honey until fully incorporated.

7. Once your chicken has steamed, add the mixture and bring to a boil.

8. Cook until sauce thickens and coats the chicken entirely.

9. Serve over freshly cooked rice or buttered noodles.