If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine, then you may be familiar with unagi don (grilled eel rice bowl) and the classic mouthwatering sauce that coats the eel. The sauce is deliciously caramelised with a savoury-sweet flavour profile that works with more than just eel. It’s made from just a few simple ingredients: soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake. And the steps are even more simple than the ingredients so you can create your own homemade eel sauce in no time. Take all your dishes to the next level with this quick and easy unagi sauce recipe!
Table of contents
What is Unagi Sauce?
Unagi sauce, called unagi no tare in Japanese, is a sweet and savoury condiment that adds a finger-licking good coating of flavour to any dish. The sauce isn’t actually made from eel but is named after the food it’s most associated to – the very popular ‘unagi don‘. This dish features a bowl of rice topped with grilled eel coated in this delicious sauce, hence the name. The sauce itself is made from 4 simple ingredients: soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake. These are staples in Japanese cooking and are the same used to make teriyaki, however the difference lies in the consistency. It has a thick and viscous consistency making it easy to glaze over grilled eel and other meats and to use on sushi rolls and as a dipping sauce. It’s delicious and popular and luckily making your own homemade unagi sauce is very easy.
Unagi Sauce Ingredients
This delicious sauce is made with the same few key ingredients as teriyaki sauce that give it its distinctive taste.
Soy sauce
This is often the base of sauces. Soy sauce packs a punch of umami flavor and gives the dish an extra burst of saltiness. Low sodium and gluten-free options are available nowadays for anyone with dietary needs. If you can’t find gluten-free soy sauce then you can substitute it with tamari which contains no wheat but is still made from soybeans.
Sugar
This balances out the salty flavours of soy sauce and adds a complimentary sweetness to unagi sauce. It makes the sauce caramelized when cooked, creating a sticky glaze perfect for grilled eel. The sugar can be either granulated or brown depending on personal preference.
Sake
Another essential ingredient in unagi sauce as it provides depth and complexity to the overall flavour profile and enhances the umami flavours . Sake is a Japanese rice wine that’s often used in cooking due to its subtle sweetness and mild acidity.
Mirin
This rounds out this tasty sauce concoction with its sweet aroma and syrupy texture. Mirin is similar to sake but sweeter as it is translated to sweet rice wine in English, making it an excellent choice for marinades and sauces like Unagi Sauce. Its natural sugars caramelise during cooking to create a glossy finish on top of grilled eel. There are two types of Mirin, I recommend to use Hon Mirin. Read more about mirin here.
These four ingredients – soy sauce, sugar, sake and mirin – work together harmoniously to create this beloved Japanese sauce. With their unique combination of flavors ranging from umami-rich soy sauce to sweet mirin syrupiness, they are what make this condiment so special. The golden ratio is 1:1 of everything. If you use 1 cup soy sauce, then use 1 cup each of mirin, sake, and sugar too. These four ingredients are Japanese pantry staple condiments, but if you don’t have any of those, see this post for substitution.
How to Make Unagi Sauce at Home
Here’s how you can make homemade unagi sauce.
- In a small saucepan, combine mirin and sake over medium heat. Bring it to boil allowing the alcohol contents in mirin and sake to evaporate.
- Add the sugar and soy sauce to the mixture and stir well until it dissolves completely.
- Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until it has reduced by half.
- Add a pinch of salt.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely before using or storing.
- Store it in a clean sterilised jar or air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks
Tips for Making Unagi Sauce
- You can adjust the sweetness of your unagi sauce by adding more or less sugar.
- Simmer the mixture carefully over low heat to reduce, as sugar and soy sauce burns easily.
- If you have eel head and bones, roast them and add to the sauce. It will add umami and will be full fledged Unagi sauce that you have like at a shop.
How to Serve Unagi Sauce
Unagi sauce is a tasty and versatile condiment that can add a burst of flavor to any dish. Whether you’re enjoying unagi donburi (unagi don) or sushi rolls, grilled meats or vegetables, or even dipping your fries in it, Unagi sauce is sure to satisfy your taste buds. Here are some suggestions to help you enjoy this delicious sauce to the fullest.
Use it as a dipping sauce
Unagi sauce can be used as a dipping sauce for sushi rolls, sashimi, tempura, and other dishes. Simply pour some into a small dish and dip away!
Brush it on grilled meats
Unagi sauce makes an excellent marinade for grilled meats like chicken and beef. Brush the meat with the sauce before grilling or use it as a glaze during cooking.
Drizzle over rice bowls and sushi
If you’re making rice bowls with veggies, meat or seafood then drizzling some unagi sauce on top makes them more flavorful and delicious. Unagi sauce drizzled over unagi sushi is a match made in culinary heaven! It perfectly complements the rich, smoky flavor of grilled freshwater eel and creates a mouthwatering combination of flavors and textures.
Incorporate into stir-frys:
Add the sauce while preparing stir-fry meals such as noodles or vegetable stir fry to enhance the overall taste of the dish.
Try it with French fries:
Believe me when I say that unagi goes well with french fries too! Just simply try dipping them in unagi sauce instead of ketchup next time.
No matter how you choose to serve it, Unagi Sauce is sure to elevate any meal with its sweet yet savory flavors.
How to Store Unagi Sauce
Store unagi sauce in a clean, sterilised jar, bottle, or container in the refrigerator. It can be refrigerated for two weeks.
FAQ
A : No, this recipe does not contain any eel. However, adding roasted eel head, and bones will enhance the Unagi sauce.
Other Homemade Japanese Condiments
Other Homemade Japanese Condiments
Unagi Sauce 鰻のタレ
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Sake *1
- ¼ cup Mirin *1
- ¼ cup Soy sauce *1
- ¼ cup Caster Sugar
- pinch Salt
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine mirin and sake over medium heat.
- Bring it to boil allowing the alcohol contents in mirin and sake to evaporate.
- Add the sugar and soy sauce to the mixture and stir well until it dissolves completely.
- Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until it has reduced by half.
- Add a pinch of salt.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely before using or storing.
- Store it in a clean sterilised jar or air-tight container.
Such a delicious sauce and really easy recipe to follow, thank you!
Thank you so much for making Unagi sauce with my recipe 😀