Eel Sauce Recipe – Unagi Sauce or, Kabayaki or Nitsume. It is a sauce that goes amazing with grilled fish or even chicken and is used very often as a drizzle over sushi. Savory, sweet and saturated in flavor, this amazing Homemade Unagi or Eel Sauce could be the next dream sauce for your dishes!
Perhaps you have tried grilled unagi (eel) or sushi with unagi before? If you haven’t, you can check our Unagi Sushi Recipe here. That caramelized and sweet, a bit salty sauce which goes with the sushi is an irresistible golden-brown sauce called the Unagi Sauce.
What is Unagi Sauce?
Historically, it’s usually applied to grilled eel or other dishes that feature grilled eel for example, unagi don (Unadon/Unaju) or sushi unagi. Though there are lots of brands of this sauce available on the market, the very best eel sauce is without a doubt, homemade eel sauce.
Ingredients
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¼ cup Aji-Mirin
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1 ½ Tbsp sake
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2 ½ Tbsp sugar
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¼ cup soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce for a gluten-free version)
Instructions
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Combine Base Ingredients
In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the sake, mirin, and sugar. Whisk gently until the sugar fully dissolves. -
Add Soy Sauce & Simmer
Pour in the soy sauce and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once it reaches boiling, reduce the heat to low. -
Reduce the Sauce
Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Towards the end, the mixture will bubble more and slightly thicken. -
Cool & Store
Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool. It will thicken further as it cools.
Transfer to an airtight jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Tips & Variations
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Gluten-Free Option – Swap regular soy sauce for tamari or certified gluten-free soy sauce.
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Sweeter or Saltier – Adjust sugar or soy sauce amounts to match your taste preferences.
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Serving Ideas – Drizzle over grilled eel, sushi rolls, grilled chicken, or roasted vegetables for a rich, savory-sweet glaze.
How to use Unagi Sauce?
Besides the usual unagi dishes, unagi sauce is amazingly delicious on any BBQ dishes. Some examples like grilled tofu, grilled mushrooms, grilled meat, grilled fish and many more. All you want is really a light brush or perhaps a drizzle with this sweet-savory sauce to strengthen the flavor of your dish. Furthermore, you should use the eel sauce as a marinade for meat dishes or as a dressing for noodles.
You must check out this recipe if you’re searching for a new flavor to enhance your grilled meals in 2022! It is undoubtedly one of my personal favorite sauces to make in the summer.
