Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers

A classic Japanese bar snack recipe that can easily be recreated at home. The amazing flavors of Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers may seem like something that can only be made in those famous Japanese Izakaya bars, but you’ll be surprised how simple this dish is to make. An authentic homemade Teriyaki Sauce filled with beautiful sweet and sour flavors is generously brushed over Jumbo Shrimp before it’s grilled to perfection. This dish is a great way to explore the diversity of flavors in Japanese cuisine and learn how simplicity truly lives at the heart of great Japanese cooking

How to make Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers at home

You don’t need any fancy Yakitori grill / charcoal grill or anything like that. All you need is a very high heat source that you can get right up close to the Shrimp. The good news is almost every home has one of these – the good old broiler in the oven! Yep, the heat the broiler produces is more than enough to grill these Shrimp Skewers to replicate the beautiful, charred flavor of a Japanese Yakitori grill

So, first step is to get your hands on some good quality Shrimp that has been peeled and deveined. We’ve got a great video here on how to peel and devein shrimp if you’re using whole shrimp. You technically ‘can’ grill whole Shrimp, but I find it’s too much of a pain to peel off all the shell once it’s cooked. Better to peel them before they are cooked

Use two skewers to attach the Shrimp

By using two skewers instead of one you can ensure much greater stability for the Shrimp. Not only will it stay attached to the skewers while cooking but using 2 skewers allows you to prevent the Shrimp from warming as they cook. They’ll keep their shape, ensuring an even cook and a beautiful presentation once finished

To apply the skewers, simply keep the curled ‘C’ form of the Shrimp. Place one through the meatiest part of the Shrimp and the other through the part just below the head (which has of course been removed) and thread it through so it pierces just before the tail. Run the Shrimp down the skewer so you can add a few more

We recommend using the larger skewers when making this dish, primarily so you can add more Shrimp to the skewers. They also allow you to easily flip them over when they’re under the broiler without risk of burning yourself

We’ve gone for 3 Shrimp per skewer. You could try to add 1 more, but I think 3 is a good number. They give you ample room to fit the Shrimp and ultimately will fit nicely on a serving plate when it’s time to eat

Preparing the Teriyaki Sauce

The real hero of this dish is this delicious Sweet and Sour Teriyaki Sauce. Making Teriyaki Sauce at home is surprisingly simple, and you can make it using ingredients that are all readily available in the grocery store

The ingredients that are used in Teriyaki Sauce are Soy Sauce, Mirin, Cooking Sake (you can also use Chinese Cooking Wine), Honey, Brown Sugar, and Corn Starch (which is used as a thickening agent). Simply combine all the ingredients into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer

Cook the whole thing down for about 10 minutes until the Sauce begins to thicken and it’s ready to go! I like to prepare the Teriyaki Sauce in advance and just take it out of the refrigerator when it’s time to cook. The high sugar content in the sauce allows it to be refrigerated for a few days before cooking. You can also make a huge batch and whip up all kinds of delicious Teriyaki dishes like our Teriyaki Chicken and Teriyaki Salmon recipes!

Cooking Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers under the broiler

The best method I’ve found is to use a wire rack and place it over a sheet pan. Place the Shrimp Skewers onto the wire rack and brush them liberally with the Teriyaki Sauce. Now, ideally you want your Teriyaki Sauce thick enough so that it doesn’t drip down into the pan and stays on the Shrimp. This will result in the best caramelization of the Shrimp

Crank your broiler on high and then place the rack directly under the heat. If you need to, adjust the rack so that the Shrimp is nice and close to the heat source. You really want an aggressive heat to replicate those amazing charcoal grills in the Japanese Izakaya’s

Cook the Shrimp for 1 ½ minutes on each side, or until the Shrimp begins to slightly char. Once done, remove them from the broiler and transfer the skewers to a serving plate. Sprinkle with Sesame Seeds, a generous amount of chopped Scallions and (optional) Japanese Kewpie Mayo

Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Ingredients

• 12 Jumbo Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• ⅓ cup Soy Sauce
• ¼ cup Mirin
• ¼ cup Cooking Sake or Chinese Cooking Wine
• 1 tbsp. Honey
• 1 tbsp. Brown Sugar
• ½ tsp. Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp. Corn Starch
• 1 tsp. Water
• 1 Scallion, finely diced
• ½ tsp. Sesame Seeds
• 1 tbsp. Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise (optional)
  
  

Equipment needed: 4 large wooden skewers

1. Add Soy Sauce, Mirin, Cooking Sake, Honey, Brown Sugar, and Sesame Oil in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer
2. Combine Corn Starch and Water in a small bowl then add to the sauce and mix well. Drop heat to a low simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently until the sauce has thickened. Set aside
3. Thread 3 Shrimp onto 2 skewers to form a ‘C’ shape for each of the Shrimp then place on a wire rack over a sheet pan
4. Turn the oven broiler on high and brush the Shrimp generously with the Teriyaki Sauce. Place under broiler and cook for 1 ½ minutes
5. Flip Shrimp over and brush over more Sauce. Broil for a further 1 ½ minutes until the Shrimp are cooked and slightly caramelized / charred
6. Remove Shrimp from oven and brush with more Teriyaki Sauce. Finish with Sesame Seeds, chopped Scallions and Japanese Mayo. Serve with more Teriyaki Sauce for dipping
   
   

Recipe Notes

• You can make the Teriyaki Sauce in advance; it will refrigerate for up to a few days. Just bring to room temperature before cooking the Shrimp
• This recipe will work with other seafood such as Fish and Scallops
  
  

We know you are going to love these delicious Teriyaki Shrimp Skewers. They make for a tasty lunch or appetizer and are ready in no time at all. This recipe is a great one to showcase the simplicity, yet big flavors of homemade Japanese cooking

For more delicious Japanese recipes you can make at home, check out these wonderful dishes:

• Gyudon (Japanese Beef Bowl)
• Salmon Sashimi with Scallion Sauce
• Japanese Pickled Radishes
• Homemade Tempura Vegetables
  
  

Happy Cooking!