Teriyaki is derived from the Japanese root words teri, which means "to shine," and yaki, which means "to broil or grill." Traditional teriyaki looks like this: shiny and incised with grill marks. Teriyaki is a Japanese dish made with soy sauce, sake, and the rice wine mirin, which adds a subtle sweetness. The teriyaki found in Seattle, of which this is an adaptation, is a little showier. White sugar and pineapple juice are used to sweeten the dish. Cornstarch is used to thicken them. Because many of the cooks have Korean ancestors, ginger and garlic are included in the recipe. It's not traditional, but it's easy to make and delicious to eat. Plan ahead of time because the chicken must marinate before cooking. Although an overnight marinade in the fridge is ideal, many readers have been satisfied with a quick marinade of an hour or so.
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons brown sugar
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed in a press
- 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 13-inch cinnamon stick
- 1 tablespoon pineapple juice
- 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch