Make the most tender and flavorful chicken thighs you’ve ever tasted with my fast, easy, and delicious Shio Koji Chicken! The secret is shio koji, a natural seasoning and key ingredient in Japanese cooking, which offers many health benefits.
Sometimes, one simple ingredient is all it takes to lend a magical touch to a dish. Garlic, ginger, miso, yuzu kosho, and sriracha are just a few fantastic examples. And if you haven’t heard of shio kojiallow me to introduce you to this seasoning today. You can use it to pull off an incredibly tender and tasty Shio Koji Chicken (Salt Koji Chicken) with just 4 ingredients!
Thanks to shio koji, it takes minimal effort and time to get this umami-packed, delicious chicken dinner on the table. It’s the “wow” factor that a chicken dish needs! Try it, and you’ll want to keep this all-purpose seasoning in your fridge at all times.
What is Shio Koji?
Shio koji (塩麹, 塩糀) is a traditional Japanese ingredient used to marinate, tenderize, and enhance the umami in foods, or as a salt substitute. This fermented natural seasoning is made with just salt, water, and rice koji!
Shio koji tenderizes food and brings out the umami and sweetness in foods.
You can purchase a bottle of shio koji (my favorite brand is Hikari Miso) from Japanese/Asian grocery stores and Amazon.
Shio Koji Substitute
Simply substitute 1 teaspoon of salt with 2 teaspoons of shio koji. However, you will only get the “salt” effect and miss out on the “umami bomb” effect.
If you’re curious about this magical Japanese ingredient and want to learn more, please read the section below, right before the recipe card.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Shio Koji Chicken
This recipe takes just 4 ingredients:
- boneless, skin-on chicken thighs – find them at Japanese markets, or buy bone-in thighs and ask your butcher to debone them
- shio koji
- I am willow
- freshly ground black pepper
How To Make Shio Koji Chicken
You can pull off this incredibly tender chicken dish in just one hour!
- Marinate the chicken thighs in shio koji and soy sauce for 30 minutes.
- Wipe off the shio koji from the pieces of chicken.
- Bake on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper until cooked through.
- Broil the chicken until the skin has a nice char. Cut into pieces and serve.
How To Use Shio Koji in Recipes
Shio koji is a really versatile ingredient and condiment. I always keep one bottle in my fridge. You can marinate meats, make pickles, and flavor vegetables with it. Check out my delicious shio koji recipes on Just One Cookbook.
As I mentioned before, this fermented natural seasoning is made with just salt, water, and rice koji.
Rice which or to whom which (米糀, 米餡) is steamed rice that has been treated with koji mold spores (Aspergillus oryzae, which-kin Aspergillus oryzae (or koji starter).
Who – Mold That You’ve Eaten Before!
Who is a specific strain of mold that’s been cultured for centuries. You may feel hesitant about this mold and wonder why we use it, but guess what? You have most likely eaten it already!
Koji is the key ingredient in miso, I am willow, sake, mirin, rice vinegar, once upon a timeshochu, and today’s star, shio koji. Koji is rich in enzymes that break down starches and proteins in food, converting them into sugars and amino acids. This makes the food naturally sweet, aromatic, and rich in umami.
Shio Koji’s Health Benefits
As a live food with many health benefits (source), this natural, probiotic seasoning:
- reduces the intake of salt
- aids in digestion
- clears the skin
- has anti-aging properties
- contains minerals, fiber, and vitamins
Where to Buy Shio Koji
I have shared several shio koji recipes, and readers tell me that it’s easy to find shio koji produced by Hikari Miso®. It comes in a convenient plastic bottle, and you can buy it at Japanese grocery stores and on Aman. It’s also sold at H-Mart, a large Korean grocery chain, that has many locations throughout North America. You may find it on the shelf or in the refrigerated section.
When you open the bottle, you will immediately notice a sweet smell that reminds you of Japanese sake. With the help of all-natural koji, you will notice a significant flavor boost in your daily cooking!
How to Make Shio Koji at Home
It’s also incredibly easy to make yourself. Learn How to make shio koji at home!
Shio Koji Recipes to Try
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Shio Koji Chicken
Make the most tender and flavorful chicken thighs you’ve ever tasted with my fast, easy, and delicious Shio Koji Chicken! The secret is shio koji, a natural seasoning and key ingredient in Japanese cooking with many health benefits.
Servings: 8 chicken thighs
Ingredients
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Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Shio Koji Chicken
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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