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Chicken Tsukune (Japanese Glazed Meatballs)

5 from 1 vote
https://sudachirecipes.com

Chicken tsukune is a delicious and flavorful type of Japanese meatball often served at izakayas, yakitori stands, at home, and in bento boxes. My homemade tsukune recipe is made with chicken thigh mixed with grated onion, shiso leaves, miso paste, and ginger. They are then shaped, fried, and coated in a delicious sticky glaze!

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes

Course Appetizers, Bento, Snacks
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 5 skewers
Calories 390
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Course: Appetizers, Bento, Snacks
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 5 skewers
Calories: 390

Ingredients 
 

  • 50 g yellow onion(s) grated
  • 250 g ground chicken
  • 5 perilla (shiso) leaves shiso/ooba, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp ginger root grated or paste
  • ½ tsp yellow miso paste (awase miso)
  • 1 tsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder
  • 2 tbsp potato starch
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp cooking oil plus extra oiling hands
  • 5 bamboo skewers optional
  • 1 pasteurized egg yolk optional, for dipping

Sauce

  • 1 ½ tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 ½ tbsp mirin
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp red wine

Instructions 

  • Add 50 g yellow onion(s), 250 g ground chicken, 5 perilla (shiso) leaves, 1 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise, 1 tsp ginger root, ½ tsp yellow miso paste (awase miso), 1 tsp Chinese-style chicken bouillon powder, 2 tbsp potato starch and 1 pinch ground black pepper to a large mixing bowl.
    chicken tsukune meatballs in mixing bowl
  • Mix with a silicone spatula until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout and the mixture has combined and reached a sticky consistency. 
    tsukune meatball mixture in a mixing bowl with silicone spatula
  • Divide into 5 equal pieces (for balls, divide into 12-15 pieces to make 4-5 skewers with 3 meatballs on each). Grease your hands with oil and shape into oblongs or balls. (If you don't want to get your hands dirty, transfer each piece to a piece of baking parchment and shape using a spoon.)
    oblong shaped tsukune meatballs arranged on baking paper on a wooden chopping board
  • Heat pan on medium and drizzle 1 tsp cooking oil. Once hot, add the tsukune to the pan and fry until crispy underneath.
    chicken tsukune in a frying pan
  • Flip and repeat on the other side.
    chicken tsukune browned on one side in a frying pan
  • While the tsukune are frying, mix 1 ½ tbsp soy sauce, 1 ½ tbsp mirin, 1 tsp red wine and 1 tbsp sugar in small bowl.
    Chicken tsukune sauce mixed in a small glass bowl
  • Once both sides are crispy and the meat is cooked through, add the sauce to the pan and turn off the heat, the sauce will thicken in the residual heat. Move the tsukune around the pan and make sure they're evenly coated all over.
    chicken tsukune cooked with glaze
  • Push onto skewers, sprinkle with sesame seeds and spring onion. Optional: serve with 1 pasteurized egg yolk for dipping.
    chicken tsukune on a brown serving plate with egg yolk for dipping
  • Enjoy!
    dipping chicken tsukune into raw egg yolk

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.7g | Protein: 23.8g | Fat: 22.7g | Saturated Fat: 4.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5.1g | Cholesterol: 103.5mg | Sodium: 1231.5mg | Fiber: 0.9g