Sooo excited to get a Konro BBQ Grill with Japanese Binchotan charcoals for my birthday, I could not get the six foot grin of my face all day! So I’ve had to learn how and what binchotan charcoal is and how to use this awesome charcoal that burns at crazy hot temperatures for five hours, can be re-used several time and you can BBQ INDOORS WITH! That’s it I’m silly excited about all the Japanese, Korean, Asian, Malaysia and many more recipes that I’m going to cook. My first recipe is just my simple Japanese marinaded chicken.
Marinating time 30 mins - 24 hours
Ingredients
(makes 8 skewers)
2 chicken breast
3 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp brown rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp wasabi paste
1 pinch red chilli flakes
Dice the chicken in to equal inch square pieces, mix all the marinade ingredients together and add the chicken, leave to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes but the longer you leave the more in-depth the flavour. Soak your bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes then skewer 3 or 4 pieces on to each skewer. Cook for 2 minutes each side on the grill.
The Grill
Known as Yakitori, Hibachi or Konro Grills. Made from diatomite fossilised remains of plankton that have compound down trillions of times and then when the sea levels lowered left compact diatomite. Hand mined in Suzu Japan and formed in to blocks that are seamlessly joined together before being kiln fired at 1000 degrees to create a stronger tighter bbq grill which results in a strong ceramic grill that can withstand extreme temperatures for cooking, increasing a longer cooking and more even distribution charcoal burn, which is what Binchotan charcoal creates.
BINCHOTAN CHARCOAL
Specifically Kishu Binchotan charcoal also known as Japanese white charcoal is made from Ubame Oak which is only found in Wakayama Prefecture Japan and the production is still an ancient art. The final stages of producing Binchotan involves the Ubame being heated to incredibly high temperatures burning off all impurities leaving nothing but rock hard carbon, this carbon burns cleanly with no odour or smoke, making this the best charcoal for a clean no flavour tainted grilling. This carbon is also used in water filter purification.
Binchotan produces a constant steady heat which burns for a very very long time around 5 hours. Now if your not cooking for 5 hours don’t leave the Binchotan to carry on burning you can use a extinguisher pot to stop the coals and save for re-use many times over. When cooking over Binchotan there are no flame flare ups which often taint food, instead when fat drips on to the charcoals it creates a whisper puff cloud of flavour from the fat.
Lighting Binchotan
A charcoal starter or a Looflighter? I’ve only cooked over wood fired pits and ovens, so this is a new experience for me CHARCOAL. After a quick read I decided to try the Looflighter as it is organic and just uses hot air to start the coals off, my reason for this is to respect the integrity of the Binchotan. I found this a little labouring in only as the fact I had to hold the heat wand for 5 minutes at the same spot, not a terrible chore really. The Looflighter can be used indoors as well as outdoors.
The Charcoal Starter
This is a much easier way to start your coals off, but does require a naked flame heat source from a gas cooker or from a established open wood fire. Place your Binchotan in the starter and place the starter on a open flame, leave for 5 minutes until the coals are glowing then transfer to your KONRO grill and your good to go.
As you can see the Binchotan burns very slowly and glows from the inside out.
The Binchotan Charcoal Extinguisher
This is a simple snuffer, basically you need to stop any oxygen to the coals, you can buy expensive professional pots but after some research I decided to make one with my garden kiln dried flower pots. Worked a treat, job done and for £1.99. The coals will be cold within 20 minutes, then store somewhere safe and dry. Next time your firing up your grill place a few used Binchotan on the bottom with fresh charcoals in the middle and a few used on top this time you coals will fire up within 60 seconds to 3 minutes much faster than new Binchotan coals.
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