Yellowtail Teriyaki ぶりの照り焼き

Yellowtail Teriyaki, or Buri no Teriyaki, is a classic Japanese grilled fish with a delicious glaze of homemade teriyaki sauce. It‘s also a popular main dish to enjoy as part of Osechi Ryori, or traditional Japanese New Year foods.

When you go to your favorite Japanese restaurants, have you seen Yellowtail Teriyaki on the menu? Probably not since  Salmon Teriyaki and Yellowtail Collar (Hamachi Kama) are generally more popular menu items than yellowtail teriyaki. You may be surprised that’s not the case in Japan. Yellowtail Teriyaki, or what we call Buri no Teriyaki (ぶりの照り焼き) in Japanese, is a staple dish in Japan households. 

Yellowtail – A Fish with Many Names

Japanese love seafood, so we can get very detailed with our naming. A good example is Yellowtail – a fish that changes names as it grows. Traditionally, there were different names for wild yellowtail, according to size and age, and to make things more complicated, there were also different names between Tokyo and Osaka:

Age (Length) – Tokyo / Osaka name

• 6 months (10 cm) – Wakashi / Tsubasu
• 1 year (30 cm) – Inada / Hamachi
• 3 years (60 cm) – Warasa / Mejiro
• 4 years (90 cm) – Buri / Buri

If you think that’s hard to remember, it’s become even more confusing. Japanese differentiate yellowtail now by:

• Farm / Small – Hamachi (not as much exercise for the fish, hence fatty with soft muscles and lighter colored flesh)
• Wild / Large – Buri

And of course exceptions…

• Wild / Small – Hamachi (Firmer flesh and darker color)

But let’s keep this simple so you can remember when you’re eating out or shopping. In general, the yellowtail “Hamachi” used for sushi and sashimi in the US and Japan is farmed. The larger, older, wild yellowtail “Buri” are caught in the fall in the Japan Sea. This seasonal Buri is called Kanburi (寒鰤) and it is nice and oily, and has so much flavor. It’s enjoyed during fall/winter time in Japan, so Buri no Teriyaki is common during this time.

One more note: the English term for Hamachi is “yellowtail”, and Kanpachi is “amberjack”. However, because yellowtail can also be called “Japanese amberjack”, a lot of people think they are the same fish.

Why Salt the Fish Before Cooking?

Don’t avoid sprinkling salt just because the Teriyaki Sauce is “salty” enough. Salt plays an important role in prepping, and here’s why.

Adds Umami

The protein itself has no taste. Sprinkling on salt will cause the proteolytic enzyme to kick in and the protein will change to glutamic acid or a delicious amino acid – the umami flavor!

Remove Fishy Smell

After leaving the salted fish for 10 minutes, the fish releases excess moisture, which also contains an unwanted fishy smell. Simply wipe off the excess moisture with a paper towel and the final dish will not have that fishy smell.

If you are using defrosted fish, it’s not as fresh hence the fish might have a stronger fishy smell. In that case, leave the salt on for a little longer, about 15-20 minutes.

Remove Excess Moisture

As some moisture is withdrawn, the flesh is firmer and more elastic, and it’s less likely the flesh is broken into pieces.

Why Do We Coat The Fish with Flour?

I occasionally receive questions on coating fish and meat with flour, so here are some reasons why it is important.

1. Prevents the fish from breaking apart

When seared on the frying pan, the fish coated with flour holds together stronger, which protects it from breaking apart.

2. Gives a crispy texture

When coated with flour, the surface develops a nice crispy texture when cooked. It makes it so delicious! 

3. Adds a toasty flavor and aroma

The burnt/charred flour adds an extra toasty flavor.

4. Locks in the fat, juice, and umami

The flour acts as a protective barrier and sponge, preventing the umami from leaving the fish.

5. Thickens the pan sauce

As you cook the coated fish in the sauce, the flour slowly dissolves and creates a beautiful, thicker sauce.

Simple enough to make on a weeknight yet elegant enough for company, Yellowtail Teriyaki pairs well with pan-grilled vegetables like Negi (long green onion) and shishito peppers. Serve along with steamed rice and miso soup, and you’d have a delicious meal at dinner. 

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Yellowtail Teriyaki

4.92 from 12 votes

Yellowtail Teriyaki, or Buri no Teriyaki, is a classic Japanese grilled fish with a delicious glaze of homemade teriyaki sauce. It‘s also a popular main dish to enjoy as part of Osechi Ryori, or traditional Japanese New Year foods.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

  

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• ▢ 2 fillets yellowtail (hamachi, buri) (7.8 oz, 220 g)
• ▢ 1 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
• ▢ 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour (plain flour)
• ▢ 1 Tbsp neutral oil

For the Teriyaki Sauce

• ▢ 2 Tbsp sake
• ▢ 2 Tbsp mirin
• ▢ 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• ▢ 1 Tbsp sugar

For the Garnish (optional)

• ▢ 1 Tokyo negi (naga negi; long green onion) (white part only)
• ▢ 4 shishito peppers

Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.

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Instructions

 

Before You Start…

• If you will include this dish in your Osechi meal, I recommend cooking it up to a day before you plan to serve. For more helpful tips on planning your Japanese New Year feast, please read my A 5-Day Osechi Cooking Timeline blog post.
• Gather all the ingredients.
  

To Prepare the Garnish (optional)

• Cut the white part of 1 Tokyo negi (naga negi; long green onion) into 2-inch (5-cm) pieces. You will need one piece per serving. Make small slits or holes in 4 shishito peppers by poking the skin with a knife tip.
  
• Heat a large frying pan and dry roast the negi and shishito peppers (without applying any oil). When they achieve a nice char, transfer to a plate and set aside.
  

To Make the Yellowtail Teriyaki

• In a bowl, combine the seasonings for the teriyaki sauce: 2 Tbsp sake, 2 Tbsp mirin, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp sugar. Whisk it all together.
  
• Sprinkle 1 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt on both sides of 2 fillets yellowtail (hamachi, buri) and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, pat it dry with a paper towel.
  
• Coat all sides of the fish with 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour (plain flour) and remove the excess flour.
  
• Heat 1 Tbsp neutral oil in the frying pan over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, sear the fish skin for 15 seconds or so by pressing down on the pan. Then, place the fish “front“ side down and cook until nicely seared, about 2–3 minutes. Tip: This front side of the fish will face up on the serving plate.
  
• Flip the fish over and cover the pan with a lid. Lower the heat a little bit and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes.
  
• Remove the lid and wipe off the excess oil in the frying pan. Pour the teriyaki sauce into the pan.
  
• Spoon the sauce over the fish while the sauce is thickening. Do not flip over the fish as it can break down and fall apart. Tilt the pan if necessary to scoop the sauce with a spoon. Once the sauce gets syrupy, turn off the heat.
  

To Serve

• Transfer the Yellowtail Teriyaki to individual serving plates “front“ side up. Drizzle the sauce over the fish. Garnish with the grilled negi (optional) and shishito peppers (optional) on the side. If you‘re serving this as part of your Osechi meal for Japanese New Year, cool it completely before packing it into a jubako (3-tiered box).
  

To Store

• You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 1 day and in the freezer for a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 231 kcal · Carbohydrates: 10 g · Protein: 24 g · Fat: 6 g · Saturated Fat: 4 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 41 mg · Sodium: 744 mg · Potassium: 493 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 8 g · Vitamin A: 197 IU · Vitamin C: 7 mg · Calcium: 41 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Author: Namiko Hirasawa Chen

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: glazed fish, teriyaki

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