Yakitori Set Meal with Soup and Brown Rice

This Japanese-inspired set meal features a trio of yakitori skewers — juicy chicken with scallions, savory tsukune meatballs, and crispy chicken skin — paired with a light vegetable soup and wholesome brown rice. It’s a restaurant-style yakitori teishoku you can easily enjoy at home.

Servings: 2

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Yakitori Skewers

• 8 oz chicken thigh, cut into bite-size pieces

• 2 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 6 oz chicken skin (optional, for crispy skewers)

• 8 wooden skewers, soaked in water

Tsukune (Chicken Meatballs)

• 6 oz ground chicken

• 2 Tbsp panko breadcrumbs

• 1 green onion, finely chopped

• 1 tsp grated ginger

• 1 tsp soy sauce (low sodium recommended)

• ½ tsp sesame oil

• 1 egg yolk

Soup

• 3 cups dashi (or light chicken broth)

• 1 cup napa cabbage, chopped

• 1 cup spinach leaves

• ½ tsp soy sauce

• Pinch of salt

Side

• 1 cup cooked brown rice (about ½ cup dry)

• Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

1. Prepare Skewers

   
   

   • Thread chicken thigh pieces onto skewers, alternating with scallion slices.

   • Thread chicken skin pieces onto separate skewers.

   • Season lightly with salt and set aside.

2. 
   

3. Make Tsukune

   
   

   • In a bowl, combine ground chicken, panko, onion, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and egg yolk. Mix until sticky.

   • Shape into oval patties around skewers. Set aside.

4. 
   

5. Grill Yakitori

   
   

   • Heat a grill pan or broiler. Cook chicken thigh skewers 3–4 minutes per side until golden.

   • Grill chicken skin skewers until crisp.

   • Cook tsukune skewers until browned and fully cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.

6. 
   

7. Cook Soup

   
   

   • Bring dashi to a gentle simmer. Add napa cabbage and cook 3 minutes.

   • Add spinach and soy sauce, simmer 1 minute more. Adjust seasoning with salt.

8. 
   

9. Serve the Set Meal

   
   

   • Arrange skewers on plates with lemon wedges.

   • Serve alongside bowls of brown rice and hot vegetable soup.

10. 
    

Nutrition (per serving, approx.)

• Calories: ~490

• Protein: 32g

• Fat: 18g (5g saturated)

• Carbohydrates: 47g

• Fiber: 5g

• Sodium: ~560mg (varies with soy sauce used)

Why It Works

• Yakitori Variety: A mix of textures — juicy chicken, crisp skin, and tender tsukune — keeps the meal exciting.

• Balanced Set Meal: Rice provides steady energy, while the light soup balances the grilled skewers.

• Customizable: Skewers can be seasoned simply with salt (shio-yaki) or brushed with tare sauce for a richer flavor.

Yakitori Set Meal with Soup and Brown Rice (Diabetic Friendly) 👍👍👍