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Food & Wine Recipe

Beef Yakitori

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME: 30 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • •FAST
  • •HEALTHY

Yakitori are grilled chicken skewers. Here, Grace Parisi substitutes lean beef, adds mushrooms and scallions, then brushes on a savory combination of miso, soy sauce, sugar and fragrant sesame oil.

  1. 3/4 pound lean sirloin, cut into 1-inch pieces
  2. 6 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved
  3. 6 scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths
  4. 1/4 cup canola oil
  5. Salt
  6. 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  7. 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  8. 1 tablespoon miso paste
  9. 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  10. Sesame seeds, for garnish
  1. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. In a bowl, toss the sirloin, mushrooms and scallions with the canola oil and season with salt. Thread the meat and vegetables onto 8 skewers.
  2. In a bowl, combine the brown sugar with the soy sauce, miso paste and sesame oil. Grill the skewers over high heat, turning, until the meat is nearly cooked, about 2 minutes. Brush the skewers with the glaze and grill until they are lightly charred and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Transfer the yakitori to plates, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and serve.

Suggested Pairing

Sake: Fruity, earthy, mushroom-scented Ama No To Heaven's Door Tokubetsu Junmai.

Pairing by Rick Smith and Hiroko Furukawa of New York City's East Village sake shop Sakaya (sakayanyc.com).