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Tender chicken meatballs brushed with a savory sauce, called tsukune, are my favorite skewer on offer at a yakitori restaurant. Here the classic dish gets a weeknight makeover, thanks to a single sheet pan streamlining the cooking process, with meatballs on one side and green beans on the other. After their stint in the oven, the meatballs get a sticky coating of sweet soy glaze, while the green beans (still crips-tender!) are tossed in a bright sesame dressing. Piled on rice, it's a complete meal built from components that make great leftovers - if you don't finish them all the first night.
This glaze continues to thicken as it cools, so for best coverage, pour glaze over meatballs in a large bowl and toss to coat. Then continue to toss periodically for the next few minutes, which will build up additional coats of glaze.
Ingredients
3 scallions
1 large egg
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
1/2 cup panko
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1/2 tsp. Morton kosher salt
1 Tbsp. tahini
1 tsp. miso
1 tsp. plus 2/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar
5 Tbsp. sugar
1 lb. green beans, trimmed
1 lb. ground chicken
1/3 cup soy sauce
Sesame seeds and steamed rice (for serving)
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove dark green tops from scallions and thinly slice; set aside for serving. Finely chop remaining white and pale green parts; transfer to a large bowl. Add egg, garlic, panko, red pepper flakes, 2 Tbsp. oil, and 1 tsp. salt; mix to combine. Let sit 5 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, whisk tahini, miso, 1 tsp. vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and 2 Tbsp. water in a large bowl to combine. Set tahini dressing aside.
Step 3
Place green beans on a rimmed baking sheet; drizzle with some oil, season with salt, and toss to coat.
Step 4
Add chicken to bowl with scallion mixture and mix gently to combine. Using oiled hands, scoop out about 2 Tbsp. portions and roll into golf-ball-size meatballs. Place on baking sheet with green beans.
Step 5
Bake, turning meatballs once, until green beans are tender and meatballs are cooked through (they will still be very pale), 13-17 minutes.
Step 6
Meanwhile, whisk soy sauce, 2/3 cup vinegar, and remaining 5 Tbsp. sugar in a cold small saucepan to dissolve sugar. Set over medium-high heat and cook, whisking occasionally to keep from sticking to sides, until thick and syrupy, 11-13 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in remaining 1 Tbsp. vinegar.
Step 7
Transfer meatballs to a large bowl. Pour soy glaze over and toss to coat. Glaze will thicken as it cools, so toss periodically to build up coats of glaze on meatballs until ready to serve.
Step 8
Transfer green beans to bowl with reserved tahini dressing; add sesame seeds as desired and toss to coat.
Step 9
Divide rice among shallow bowls or plates and top with meatballs and green beans. Spoon any soy glaze remaining in bowl over. Top with reserved dark green scallion tops.
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Bon Appétit
