Spicy Korean Gochujang Chicken Skewers 🍢🇰🇷

Description

Juicy Korean-style chicken skewers glazed with sticky gochujang sauce, finished with sesame and scallions for that bold street-food bite 🌶️
Hook
High heat, fast caramelization, and a glossy glaze that clings, no dry chicken, no bland flavor ✨

Ingredients

• Chicken
• 🍗 700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs, 3 cm pieces (1.54 lb / 24.7 oz)
• 🧂 6 g fine sea salt (1 tsp / 0.21 oz)
• ⚫ 2 g black pepper (½ tsp / 0.07 oz)
• 🧄 8 g garlic, grated (2–3 cloves / 0.28 oz)
• 🫚 10 g ginger, grated (1 tbsp / 0.35 oz)
• 🥄 15 ml soy sauce (1 tbsp / ½ fl oz)
• 🍶 15 ml rice vinegar (1 tbsp / ½ fl oz)
• 🍯 15 ml honey (1 tbsp / ½ fl oz)
• 🫒 10 ml neutral oil (2 tsp / 0.34 fl oz)
• Gochujang glaze
• 🥣 60 g gochujang (¼ cup / 2.1 oz)
• 🍯 30 ml honey or brown sugar syrup (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz)
• 🥄 15 ml soy sauce (1 tbsp / ½ fl oz)
• 🍶 15 ml rice vinegar (1 tbsp / ½ fl oz)
• 🫚 5 g ginger, grated (1 tsp / 0.18 oz)
• 🧄 4 g garlic, grated (1 clove / 0.14 oz)
• 💧 30 ml water (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz)
• 🌾 10 ml sesame oil (2 tsp / 0.34 fl oz)
• Finish
• 🌱 10 g sesame seeds (1 tbsp / 0.35 oz)
• 🧅 40 g scallions, thinly sliced (⅓ cup / 1.4 oz)
• 🥒 150 g cucumber, thin slices for serving, optional (1 cup / 5.3 oz)

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Soak skewers and prep heat
2. If using wooden skewers, soak in water 20 min. Preheat grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Target pan surface 210–230°C (410–446°F), it should sizzle hard when chicken hits.
3. 2️⃣ Marinate the chicken
4. In a bowl mix salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and neutral oil. Add chicken and mix well. Marinate 20 min at room temp or up to 12 h chilled.
5. 3️⃣ Make the glaze
6. In a small saucepan combine gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, water. Simmer 2–3 min on low until glossy and slightly thick. Turn off heat and stir in sesame oil.
7. 4️⃣ Skewer for even cooking
8. Thread chicken onto skewers, leaving small gaps between pieces so heat can circulate. Pat lightly with paper towel if the surface is very wet.
9. 5️⃣ Sear first, then glaze
10. Cook skewers 3 min on the first side without moving. Flip and cook 2 min. Brush glaze on both sides and cook 1–2 min more, turning once, until caramelized.
11. 6️⃣ Safety check
12. Chicken is done at 74°C (165°F) in the thickest piece. If you do not have a thermometer, cut one piece, it should be fully opaque with clear juices.
13. 7️⃣ Finish and serve
14. Transfer to a plate. Brush a final thin layer of glaze. Sprinkle sesame seeds and scallions. Serve with cucumber slices.

Total Time

⏱️ Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook/Bake: 8 min
🛋️ Rest: 20 min
⏰ Total: 43 min

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