Golden, charred skewers lay elegantly across the plate. Juicy pieces of marinated pork and vibrant green spinach leaves are intertwined on the skewers, each piece seared with delightful grill marks. A glossy teriyaki glaze coats over the top. A side of sticky white rice balances the bold skewers, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds provides a delicate crunch. Flashes of pink from the picked radishes adds pops of color.

Japanese BBQ Spinach Skewers

Name: Japanese BBQ Spinach Skewers
Prep time: 70 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 85 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: pork loin, 1.5 lbs cut into 1-inch cubes; fresh spinach leaves, 250g; soy sauce, 1/2 cup; sake, 1/4 cup; mirin, 1/4 cup; granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons; garlic, 2 cloves minced; ginger, 1 tablespoon grated; sticky white rice, 2 cups; pickled radishes, 1/4 cup; sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon; oil, 1 tablespoon; salt, 1/2 teaspoon

Category BBQ

Prep 70 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly High-Protein

Daily Recipe: December 20, 2024

Here's a fresh take on Japanese barbeque using Spinach as a key ingredient. We're blending the smoky, savoury nature of traditional BBQ with the flavours of Japanese cuisine. A unique fusion to add warmth and comfort during the cooler months. We'll be using a few traditional Japanese ingredients to create a harmony of flavours in this dish.

Ingredients (for 4)

Pork loin - 1.5 lbs - cut into 1-inch cubes
Fresh spinach leaves - 250g
Soy sauce - 1/2 cup
Sake - 1/4 cup
Mirin - 1/4 cup
Granulated sugar - 2 tablespoons
Garlic - 2 cloves - minced
Ginger - 1 tablespoon - grated
Sticky white rice - 2 cups
Pickled radishes - 1/4 cup
Sesame seeds - 1 tablespoon
Oil - 1 tablespoon
Salt - 1/2 teaspoon

Preparation

Step 1 - 🥣🥢🍶

Combine soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, garlic, and ginger to create the marinade.
Step 2 - 🍖⏰❄

Add the pork cubes into the marinade and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight for best flavor.
Step 3 - 🍢🐖🥬

Thread the marinated pork and spinach leaves onto skewers, alternating between the two.
Step 4 - 🔥⏲🍡

Prepare the grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grill grates. Grill the skewers for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally until the pork is fully cooked and slightly charred.
Step 5 - 🥣🍚⏲

While the skewers are grilling, cook the sticky white rice as per the package instructions.
Step 6 - 🍽🍡🍚

Serve the skewers over the sticky rice, garnish with pickled radishes and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Additional

This dish can be personalized following your flavour preferences. Vegetarians can replace pork with firm tofu or tempeh. For a low-carb version, swap white rice for cauliflower rice. And for extra heat, sprinkle a bit of chili flakes on top! Your kids can help by threading the skewers.