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 servings
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs pork loin cut into 1-inch cubes; 250g fresh spinach leaves; 1/2 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup sake; 1/4 cup mirin; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 2 cloves garlic minced; 1 tablespoon ginger grated; 2 cups sticky white rice; 1/4 cup pickled radishes; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; 1 tablespoon oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt

Smoky skewers with a Japanese twist.

Category BBQ

Prep 70 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly High-Protein

Daily recipe · December 20, 2024

A little about this dish

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.

A final fox tip

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.