▢ 2 Tablespoons white sesame seeds, toasted
▢ 2 pounds boneless beef sirloin roast, sliced 1 cm thick against the grain
▢ ½ cup dark brown sugar, (dark brown preferred but light brown works too)
▢ ⅓ cup soy sauce, (if using less-sodium, add 1/2 teaspoon sea salt)
▢ 2 Tablespoons garlic (6 cloves), pressed
▢ 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
▢ 2 Tablespoons mirin, or 1 teaspoon white sugar
▢ 2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
▢ ½ cup pineapple juice or fresh crushed pineapples, Optional – Will aid with tenderizing lean meat such as ‘eye of round’ or ‘chuck’. Marinate for 5 minutes up to 15 minutes maximum, depending on the thickness of the sliced meat. If you want to add pineapple juice for flavor to tender meat, I recommend adding it at the very end after your meat is done marinating with the teriyaki sauce.

Instructions

1️⃣ Soak wooden skewers in water for 1 hour prior to grilling to help prevent sticks from burning too quickly. 💧

2️⃣ Toast white sesame seeds on medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown (you can also use pre-toasted sesame seeds). Set it aside in a heat-proof bowl to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Grind seeds in a mortar with a pestle (or in a zip-top plastic bag with a rolling pin). 🌰

3️⃣ Remove roast from packaging and pat it dry with paper towels. If present, trim away connective tissue or silver skin (the membrane that will not break down during grilling) from the roast. Slice roast into even, thin slices against the grain. Cut slices approx. 2 x 3 inches with a 1 cm thickness. Set beef aside in a large mixing bowl. 🍖

4️⃣ In a medium mixing bowl whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, mirin, toasted sesame seeds, hoisin sauce and pineapple juice (only recommended for tougher meats). Pour the sauce into the bowl with sliced beef and mix everything with a spatula until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap (or place beef into a zip-top plastic bag) and refrigerate it for 1 hour. 🍶

5️⃣ Skewer about 6 beef slices on one skewer stick, leaving a 2-inch gap on the dull side of the stick for easy handling. Repeat this step until all of the meat is skewered. Place skewers on a tray lined with aluminum foil. 🍢

6️⃣ If there is excess marinade left over, pour it into a saucepan and bring it to a boil (stir occasionally) until the sauce has reduced and is thickened. Use this as an extra sauce to brush on the beef while grilling. 🍲

7️⃣ Grill skewers on your BBQ oven on medium-high heat (approximately 400°F) for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until the meat is cooked and the sauce is sticky (slightly charred is even better for flavor). Serve immediately as an appetizer or as a main course with a side dish. 🔥