Chickiyaki Delight—Dinner for 4
Chickiyaki Delight is a Japanese dinner dish combining tender chicken pieces with savory takoyaki, a popular octopus-filled dough ball. This fusion meal offers a unique twist on traditional flavors, creating an unforgettable dining experience for those seeking to explore new culinary horizons.
Meal Type
Dinner
Cuisine
Japanese
Servings
4
Food Stars
Chicken
Takoyaki
Health
Variations
Diets
Variations
Do This With That Stuff
- Cut the 1 lb of chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces on the cutting board using the chef’s knife
- In a small mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup mirin, 2 tbsp sugar, and 1 tbsp sake
- Grate 1 tsp ginger using the grater or zester and mince 2 cloves garlic using the garlic press or mincer, then add both to the sauce mixture
- Place chicken pieces in the sauce mixture, ensuring they are well-coated, and marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, and 1/2 tsp baking powder
- Gradually whisk in 1 cup dashi broth until smooth and no lumps remain
- Whisk in 2 large lightly beaten eggs into the batter until well combined
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom of the skillet evenly
- Remove chicken from marinade with tongs, allowing excess marinade to drip off before adding it to the batter mixture Coat chicken pieces evenly with batter
- Carefully place battered chicken pieces in hot oil using tongs Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer cooked chicken onto a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil
- Arrange cooked takoyaki on a serving platter along with fried chicken pieces Sprinkle chopped green onions over both takoyaki and chicken pieces evenly using half of the amount (1/4 cup)
- Drizzle takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce) over takoyaki balls followed by drizzling Japanese mayonnaise over both takoyaki balls and fried chicken pieces evenly using half of the amount (1/4 cup)
- Top takoyaki and fried chicken with 2 tbsp bonito flakes (katsuobushi) and 2 tbsp aonori (dried green seaweed) evenly
- Serve Chickiyaki Delight immediately while hot
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- Add 1 tbsp matcha powder
- Add 1/4 cup chopped bitter melon
- Replace sugar with 1 tbsp sugar substitute (e.g., erythritol)
- Increase soy sauce to 3/4 cup
🧂 Salty
- Increase soy sauce to 3/4 cup
- Add 1 tbsp miso paste
- Replace sugar with 1 tbsp honey
- Add 1/2 tsp salt to the batter mixture
🍋 Sour
- Add 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- Add 1/4 cup pickled ginger
- Replace mirin with 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- Reduce sugar to 1 tbsp
🌶️ Spicy
- Add 1 tbsp gochujang
- Add 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Increase grated ginger to 2 tsp
- Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper to batter
🍬 Sweet
- Increase sugar to 1/4 cup
- Add 2 tbsp honey to sauce mixture
- Replace takoyaki sauce with teriyaki sauce
🍄 Umami
- Increase soy sauce to 3/4 cup
- Add 1 tbsp miso paste
- Add 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
- Replace sugar with 2 tbsp brown sugar
- Increase dashi broth to 1 1/4 cups
🍸 Alcoholic
- Sake: Complements the Japanese flavors and ingredients used in the dish
- Asahi Super Dry: The crispness of this Japanese beer balances the richness of the dish
- Plum Wine (Umeshu): The fruity sweetness contrasts with the savory flavors of Chickiyaki Delight
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- Green Tea: The earthy and slightly bitter taste complements the savory flavors of the dish
- Yuzu Lemonade: The tangy citrus flavor balances the richness of the chicken and sauce
- Calpico (Calpis) Soda: The sweet and slightly tart taste refreshes the palate between bites
🥓 Keto
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup coconut aminos
- Replace mirin with 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- Replace sugar with 2 tbsp erythritol
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace cornstarch with 1/4 cup coconut flour
- Omit takoyaki balls
- Replace takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce) with 1/4 cup sugar-free teriyaki sauce
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- Replace mirin with 1/4 cup red wine
- Replace sake with 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- Replace ginger with 1 tsp grated lemon zest
- Replace dashi broth with 1 cup vegetable broth
- Replace takoyaki with 16 pieces cooked falafel balls
- Replace takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce) with 1/4 cup tzatziki sauce
- Replace Japanese mayonnaise with 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- Omit bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
- Omit aonori (dried green seaweed)
- Add 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
🥑 Paleo
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup coconut aminos
- Replace mirin with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- Replace sugar with 2 tbsp honey
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace cornstarch with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- Replace dashi broth with 1 cup chicken bone broth
- Remove takoyaki balls
- Remove takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce)
- Remove Japanese mayonnaise
🐟 Pescatarian
- Replace 1 lb chicken thighs with 1 lb firm white fish (such as cod or halibut)
- Remove 16 pieces cooked takoyaki
🌱 Vegan
- Replace 1 lb chicken thighs with 1 lb extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed
- Replace 2 large eggs with 1/2 cup aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)
- Replace 16 pieces cooked takoyaki with 16 pieces vegan takoyaki (use vegan filling such as diced mushrooms or konjac)
- Replace Japanese mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise
- Replace 2 tbsp bonito flakes (katsuobushi) with 2 tbsp shredded nori
🥦 Vegetarian
- Replace 1 lb chicken thighs with 1 lb extra-firm tofu, cubed
- Remove 16 pieces cooked takoyaki
- Replace 2 tbsp bonito flakes with 2 tbsp shredded nori
🥩 Whole30
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup coconut aminos
- Replace mirin with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- Replace sugar with 2 tbsp date paste
- Remove sake
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace cornstarch with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- Replace takoyaki balls with 16 pieces cooked compliant vegetable balls (e.g., cauliflower or zucchini)
- Remove takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce)
- Replace Japanese mayonnaise with 1/4 cup homemade whole30 mayonnaise
🧠 Brain Health
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- Replace sugar with 2 tbsp honey
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace cornstarch with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Add 1/2 cup chopped spinach
🌾 Celiac Disease
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup gluten-free tamari
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
- Replace takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce) with 1/4 cup gluten-free takoyaki sauce (or gluten-free okonomiyaki sauce)
💩 Crohns Disease
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup coconut aminos
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup rice flour
- Replace cornstarch with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- Remove garlic cloves
- Replace takoyaki with 16 pieces cooked yaki onigiri (grilled rice balls)
- Replace takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce) with 1/4 cup tamari sauce mixed with 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Remove Japanese mayonnaise
- Remove bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
- Remove aonori (dried green seaweed)
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace sugar with 1 tbsp erythritol
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace cornstarch with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- Replace takoyaki sauce with 1/4 cup sugar-free teriyaki sauce
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup gluten-free tamari
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
- Replace takoyaki sauce with 1/4 cup gluten-free okonomiyaki sauce
🫀 Heart Disease
- Replace chicken thighs with chicken breasts
- Decrease soy sauce to 1/4 cup
- Replace sugar with 1 tbsp honey
- Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
- Decrease cornstarch to 2 tbsp
- Use low-sodium dashi broth
- Replace Japanese mayonnaise with low-fat mayonnaise
❤️ Heart Health
- Replace chicken thighs with chicken breasts
- Decrease soy sauce to 1/4 cup
- Replace sugar with 1 tbsp honey
- Use low-sodium dashi broth
- Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
- Replace Japanese mayonnaise with Greek yogurt mixed with 1 tsp rice vinegar
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- Replace 1 cup dashi broth with 1 cup low-sodium dashi broth
- Decrease the takoyaki sauce to 2 tbsp (or use low-sodium okonomiyaki sauce)
- Decrease the Japanese mayonnaise to 2 tbsp
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Replace chicken thighs with 1 lb chicken breast, boneless and skinless
- Replace 1/2 cup soy sauce with 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- Replace 2 large eggs with 4 egg whites
- Reduce Japanese mayonnaise to 2 tbsp
🦠 Immune System
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
- Replace sugar with 2 tbsp honey
- Add 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
- Add 1/2 cup chopped broccoli
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace cornstarch with 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- Replace garlic with 1/2 tsp garlic-infused oil
- Replace green onions with 1/4 cup chopped chives
- Remove takoyaki balls
- Remove takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce)
- Remove bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
- Remove aonori (dried green seaweed)
💧 Kidney Disease
- Replace soy sauce with 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- Replace 1 cup dashi broth with 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- Decrease mirin to 2 tbsp
- Decrease sugar to 1 tbsp
- Replace takoyaki sauce with 2 tbsp low-sodium teriyaki sauce
- Omit bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
- Omit aonori (dried green seaweed)
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- No changes needed
🍺 Liver Disease
- Replace soy sauce with 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- Replace 1/4 cup mirin with 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- Decrease sugar to 1 tbsp
- Replace sake with 1 tbsp water
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- Replace takoyaki sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce) with 1/4 cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce
🤰 Pregnancy
- Replace soy sauce with low-sodium soy sauce
- Replace sake with 1 tbsp apple juice
- Remove takoyaki balls
- Remove bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
Beti’s Reflections
On a recent culinary adventure to Japan, I stumbled upon a hidden gem of a dish that I just knew I had to share with my fellow foodies. Say hello to Chickiyaki Delight, a scrumptious fusion of Japanese Chicken Takoyaki and tender, marinated chicken thighs. This Easy Chickiyaki Delight recipe is perfect for those who crave Japanese comfort food with a twist.
This Chickiyaki Delight Recipe serves four people and is an absolute crowd-pleaser. However, please note that this dish contains seafood (octopus-filled dough balls) and gluten, so be mindful of any dietary restrictions or allergies.
The star ingredients of this dish include 1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in a savory blend of soy sauce, mirin, sugar, sake, grated ginger, and minced garlic. The chicken is then coated in a light batter made from all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, dashi broth, and eggs before being fried to golden perfection. Paired with 16 pieces of cooked takoyaki (octopus-filled dough balls), this dish comes alive with the addition of Homemade Takoyaki Sauce (or okonomiyaki sauce), Japanese mayonnaise, bonito flakes (katsuobushi), and aonori (dried green seaweed). The combination of flavors creates an unforgettable bite-sized Japanese Chicken experience.
To create your own Chickiyaki Delight at home: start by cutting the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and marinating them for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. While the chicken marinates, prepare the batter by whisking together the dry ingredients before gradually adding in the dashi broth and eggs. Once your chicken is well-marinated and coated in batter, fry each piece until golden brown and cooked through. Arrange your cooked takoyaki alongside the fried chicken pieces on a serving platter before garnishing with chopped green onions, takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and aonori seaweed. Serve your Chickiyaki Delight immediately while hot and watch as your guests marvel at this unique Japanese Chicken Takoyaki fusion.
In conclusion, this Chickiyaki Delight Recipe is perfect for those seeking to explore new culinary horizons and impress their friends with a fun, flavorful meal. The combination of crispy chicken and savory takoyaki creates an unforgettable dining experience that will leave you craving more. So go ahead, channel your inner adventurous foodie spirit and give this delicious Japanese comfort food a try!
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