Probably the best teriyaki sauce I have tasted – simple and classic

1. 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2. 1 cup chicken broth/stock
3. 1/3 cup sugar
4. 2 tablespoons mirin
5. 2 tablespoons sake
6. Four 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts, lightly pounded
7. Salt and freshly ground pepper
8. 2 tablespoons canola oil
9. 2 large Italian frying peppers, cut into 1/2-inch strips
10. Steamed short-grain rice, for serving

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken stock with the soy sauce, sugar, mirin and sake and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer until the teriyaki sauce is reduced to 1/2 cup and syrupy, about 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the chicken and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned all over and cooked through, 8 to 9 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Wipe out the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and heat until shimmering. Add the pepper strips and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender and lightly charred, about 3 minutes. Transfer the peppers to plates. Slice the chicken breasts crosswise and transfer to the plates. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and serve with rice.

MAKE AHEAD

The teriyaki sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.