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What is Japanese Christmas Chicken?
In many Western countries, roast chicken or turkey is a popular dish during Christmas. Similarly, roast chicken is a common food in Japan during the holiday, and you can see them displayed in department stores and supermarkets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
However, the Japanese version is quite different from the Western-style roast chicken. Firstly, instead of using a whole chicken, chicken leg quarters are commonly used.
Additionally, instead of seasoning the chicken with herbs, it is glazed with soy sauce to give it a flavor similar to teriyaki. This is why the dish appears darker and shinier.
How I Developed This Recipe
You might have heard about the unique tradition in Japan where people enjoy KFC as part of their Christmas celebrations. Indeed, fried chicken is a popular option, but it doesn’t stop at KFC.
Another popular dish that graces many tables during the holiday season is roasted chicken made with leg quarters. However, this isn’t your typical European-style roast chicken; it’s glazed with soy sauce, giving it a unique Japanese flavor.
To brush up on this Christmas chicken and infuse it with an even more festive spirit, I’ve incorporated yuzu into the recipe. The fragrant citrus adds a fresh, zesty note that complements the savory soy glaze beautifully, creating a dish that’s truly the best of the best!
Ingredients & Substitution Ideas
- Chicken Leg Quarters: Ideal for a classic presentation, though drumsticks or wings can also be used as alternatives. For best results use skin-on.
- Yuzu: Adds a distinct festive and Japanese flavor. If yuzu is unavailable, Mandarin Orange or Bergamot can be substituted.
- Sake: I prefer unsalted drinking sake for its clean taste. If using cooking sake, adjust the salt in the recipe accordingly. For further understanding, consider referring to a ‘Sake 101‘ article.
- Soy Sauce: Kikkoman is a reliable and affordable option globally. For more insights and alternatives, consult my comprehensive soy sauce guide.
- Mirin: Hon Mirin (本みりん), like Hinode Hon Mirin, provides an authentic Japanese flavor. For more on the nuances between hon mirin and other types, my detailed mirin guide can be helpful.
- Sugar: Regular white caster or granulated sugar works well for this recipe.
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Visual Walkthrough & Tips
Here are my step-by-step instructions for how to make Japanese Christmas Chicken at home. For ingredient quantities and simplified instructions, scroll down for the Printable Recipe Card below.
STEP
Prepping Chicken
Start by wiping the chicken leg quarters with kitchen paper to ensure they’re clean and dry.
Use a knife to cut along the bone, this will help the flavors penetrate better and make it easier to eat. Press with your finger to find the L shape of the bone and make your cuts along this line.
Using the bone that’s poking out as a guide, make a cut on the right side to open up the meat, being careful not to cut too deeply.
Repeat the cut on the left side of the bone, essentially leaving as little meat on the bone as possible.
Locate the bend in the middle, which is the joint. Cut the joints to separate them.
With a fork, pierce the skin and meat sides evenly throughout. This helps the seasoning penetrate and tenderize the meat.
STEP
Marinating the Chicken
Place the chicken in a large bowl or Ziploc bag. Add salt, pepper, sake, soy sauce, mirin, grated yuzu peel, and yuzu juice. Rub the mixture well into the meat.
After thoroughly rubbing in the seasoning, place the chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Tip
Avoid marinating for longer than an hour to prevent the meat from becoming too salty or over-flavored.
STEP
Cooking the Chicken
Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F).
Line an oven tray with a baking sheet. Place the marinated chicken on it, skin side up, and put it in the lower part of the oven. Bake for 18 minutes.
STEP
Making the Glaze
While the chicken is in the oven, pour the used marinade into a saucepan with some sugar. Cook over low-medium heat, stirring for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
STEP
Glazing and Final Cooking
After 18 minutes, remove the chicken from the oven and brush it with the glaze from the saucepan.
Move the glazed chicken to the upper level of the oven and cook for 1 minute. After that minute, brush it again with the rest of the glaze and cook for one last minute.
Serve your deliciously glazed and flavorfully tender chicken hot, and enjoy the aromatic blend of yuzu and savory Japanese condiments!
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FAQ
Do people really eat KFC’s fried chicken on Christmas in Japan?
Yes, it is a popular tradition in Japan to eat KFC’s fried chicken on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and reservations are taken about a month in advance due to its high demand. Interestingly, KFC opened its first restaurant in Japan back in 1970, and it was during Christmas time when a foreign customer living in Japan visited the store and said, “I will celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken because there is no turkey in Japan.” This inspired the sales representative to widely promote “KFC for Christmas” to the public, which became highly successful and has lasted for decades. Therefore, the Japanese Christmas tradition of having KFC is a result of an extremely effective marketing campaign.
How do you celebrate Christmas in Japan?
Considering Japan’s lengthy history, Christmas is a relatively new event, and the way it is celebrated is very different from that of Western countries. In Japan, Christmas Eve holds more significance than Christmas Day for some unknown reason. Families with young children usually spend the day as a family, while teenagers and young adults see it as a day to spend with their loved ones. To put it simply, it is similar to Valentine’s Day in Western cultures for them.
I hope you enjoy this Japanese Christmas Chicken recipe! If you try it out, I’d really appreciate it if you could spare a moment to let me know what you thought by giving a review and star rating in the comments below. It’s also helpful to share any adjustments you made to the recipe with our other readers.Thank you!
More Christmas-Themed Recipes
- Light and Fluffy Japanese Christmas Cake
- Matcha Christmas Tree Butter Cookies
- Matcha Roll Cake (Green Tea Swiss Roll)
Japanese Christmas Chicken (Soy-Glazed Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters)
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By Yuto Omura
Enjoy Christmas the Japanese way with this delicious oven roasted chicken leg coated with a sticky, sweet and fragrant soy-based glaze flavored with zesty yuzu citrus!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Marinating Time30 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Course Appetizers, Mains
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Marinating Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr
Course: Appetizers, Mains
Cuisine: Japanese
Servings: 2 servings
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Ingredients
- 2 chicken leg quarters skin-on, bone-in
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 yuzu zest and juice (or lemon/orange)
- 1 ½ tbsp sake
- 1 tbsp mirin
- ½ tbsp sugar
Instructions
Pat the surface of 2 chicken leg quarters dry with kitchen paper.
Cut along the bone on both sides, being careful not to cut all the way through, and pull both edges out to open.
Locate the joint (the bend in the middle) and cut through to separate.
Pierce the meat with a fork to tenderize.
Place the chicken in a sealable back along with 1 pinch salt and pepper, 2 tbsp soy sauce, the juice and zest of 1 yuzu, 1 ½ tbsp sake and 1 tbsp mirin. Massage the bag to evenly distribute the ingredients.
Marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Avoid marinating for longer than this as it can make the flavor too strong.
Preheat the oven to 200 °C (392 °F) and place the chicken leg quarters on an oven tray lined with baking parchment, save the marinade for the next step. Bake on the lower shelf for 18 minutes.
Pour the leftover marinade into a small saucepan and add ½ tbsp sugar. Heat over medium-low while stirring until glossy and slightly thickened (approx 2-3 minutes).
After 18 minutes, take the chicken out of the oven and brush with the glaze. Return to the oven on the upper level this time. Bake for one minute, brush with another layer of glaze and bake for another minute.
Remove from the oven and wrap the thinner end with foil and a decorative paper ring (optional).
Enjoy!
Keyword chicken, chicken leg, Japanese Christmas recipe, Japanese glaze, roast chicken
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