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Juicy shio koji chicken served with lemon slices and fresh leafy greens.

Shio Koji Chicken

Yoko Segawa
Shio koji chicken is one of the easiest ways to make juicy, umami-packed chicken with minimal effort. Shio koji is a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning that tenderizes the meat and enhances natural umami.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marination time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 4 servings
Calories 423 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lb. chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 3 heaping tablespoons shio koji
  • Extra virgin olive oil for cooking
  • (Optional) garlic, ginger, sliced lemon, or crushed red pepper see Note 1

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl or sealable bag, toss chicken with shio koji. Stir in optional ingredients. Cover the bowl or seal the bag, then let ir marinade for 30 minutes to overnight (up to 12 hours). If you plan to marinade longer than 30 minutes, keep it in the refrigerator and take it out 15-30 minutes before cooking.
  • Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Remove a thick layer of shio koji, if any. Save it for later. Add chicken with the smooth side down. Cook, undisturbed, until a golden brown crust forms on the bottom. Then flip, cover, and turn the heat to low. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked through. If you remove any shio koji before cooking, add it to the pan when the chicken is almost cooked to heat through.

Notes

Note 1: Add extra aromatics and herbs to make it even more flavorful and your own.
  • Garlic: Use minced, grated, or sliced garlic in your marinade. Garlic powder is also good.
  • Ginger: Spicy kick adds a nice touch to savory shio koji. Add grated, minced, or julienned ginger.
  • Lemon: Marinate slices of lemon and grill with chicken to add brightness.
  • Herbs: Green onion, Rosemary, thyme, and basil.
  • Heat: Crushed red pepper and sliced jalapeno.
Golden rule: 1 heaping tablespoon shio koji for every ½ lb (225 g) chicken.
Please note that the nutritional information provided is just an estimate, and accuracy is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 423kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 28gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 167mgSodium: 131mgPotassium: 349mgVitamin A: 133IUCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
Keyword chicken, easy recipe, fermentation, koji, shio koji
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