Negima Recipes

NEGIMA (GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH GREEN ONION)

Steps:

• Soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, make the tare. In a broiler or on a grill, cook the chicken wings until they are charred over about half their surfaces. In a medium pot, bring the sake and mirin to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, add the sugar, and cook until the sugar is dissolved, stirring. Add the shoyu and chicken wings, and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thickened and glossy. Strain the sauce through a strainer lined with cotton cloth-chicken wings can be eaten as a cook's treat or saved for another purpose. Let the sauce cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it for as long as a month. Reheat the tare before using it, and once every week between uses.
• Cut the chicken thigh and breast into small pieces, about 1 by 1¼ inches. Cut the white part of each green onion into 1¼-inch lengths. Thread two pieces of chicken thigh or breasts and three pieces of long onion or leek alternately on each skewer. When using chicken with skin, folding the edges of the skin, and tuck them between the chicken meat and the long onion or leek to prevent the skin from burning.
• Heat a grill or broiler until hot. Cook the skewered chicken and green onion for 4 minutes, turning the skewers several times. Remove the chicken from the heat, and, with a pastry brush, baste it with tare.
• Return the chicken to the heat, and cook for 2 minutes, turning the skewers several times. Remove the chicken from the heat, and baste again.
• Return the chicken to the heat, and cook it for 2 minutes, turning it. Remove the chicken from the heat, baste it once more, and serve it hot.

NEGIMA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or broiler until quite hot.
• Put the meat between two layers of wax paper or plastic wrap and pound it gently until about 1/8 inch thick. Brush one side of each piece of meat with a little soy sauce.
• Cut the scallions into lengths about the same width as the meat and put a small bundle of them at one of the narrow ends of each slice. Roll the long way, securing the roll with a toothpick or two. (You can prepare the rolls in advance up to this point; cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before proceeding.) Brush the exterior of the roll with a little more soy sauce.
• Grill until brown on all sides, a total of about 6 minutes for chicken, 4 to 5 minutes for veal or pork, 4 minutes or less for beef.
• Chives also work well as a filling, as do small amounts of lightly cooked chopped spinach or chard; cooked chopped shiitake (or other) mushrooms; julienned and lightly cooked carrots or parboiled asparagus spears.