This eel sauce is sweet, salty, sticky, and needs just 3 ingredients! Also known as unagi sauce, it’s a must have addition to unagi, it’s also great as a dipping sauce or condiment!
If you’ve made my unagi or unagi sushi before, you will be familiar with unagi sauce. It’s the reason both dishes taste incredible and are so versatile, you’ll be adding it to everything!
Also known as Unagi No Tare and Nitsume, eel sauce is a sweet, sticky, and umami sauce. Essentially, it’s almost like a thicker soy sauce.
It’s an essential ingredient to any dishes that involve Unagi (eel) but is also popular with sushi, gyoza, and even beef negimaki.
While there are commercial brands you can buy at grocery stores, it is so much easier and tastier to make at home! It needs just 3 ingredients and takes minutes to make.
We love to use it as a dipping sauce or to jazz up some protein. If you like Japanese sauces, you may like to try katsu sauce or tempura sauce.
As mentioned earlier, you only need 3 ingredients to make this sauce. If you’ve made any of my other Japanese recipes before, you probably have everything on hand. Here is what you’ll need:
Simple is an understatement to make this recipe. It follows a simple 2-step process and is so delicious!
Start by adding all the ingredients into a small saucepan. Place it over medium heat and bring it to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for a further 4-5 minutes, or until it has thickened up.
Now, remove the saucepan off the heat and let it reach room temperature. Give it a stir and use immediately or store it to use later.
The beauty of this sauce is just how versatile it is. Because it has characteristics similar to BBQ sauce, you can use it in a plethora of ways. Here are some ideas:
No, unagi sauce and soy sauce have two different flavors. The former has a sweeter and more umami hit.
There is no eel flavor or actual eel in the sauce whatsoever. Its name comes from its addition to unagi.
Eel Sauce With 3 Ingredients | Authentic Unagi Sauce Recipe
This eel sauce is sweet, salty, sticky, and needs just 3 ingredients! Also known as unagi sauce, it’s a must have addition to unagi, it’s also great as a dipping sauce or condiment!
Prep: 1min
Total: 3min
Yield: 12
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 serving, calories 49 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 0.04 g, Sodium 615 mg, Fiber 0.1 g
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup mirin
Instruction:
- Add all the ingredients into a small saucepan and place it over medium heat. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low and let everything simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- Remove the saucepan off the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Once cool, transfer it into a shallow container or sterilized jar until ready to use.
Homemade Eel Sauce (Unagi Sauce)
Sweet, savory, and full of flavor, this delicious Homemade Eel Sauce is the dream sauce for eel and BBQ dishes!
Total: 20min
Yield: 100
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 3 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 38 mg, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup mirin
- 1½ Tbsp sake
- 2½ Tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
Instruction:
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- {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Turn off the heat and let it cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools. It’s now ready to use.’, ‘name’: ‘Turn off the heat and let it cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools. It’s now ready to use.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justonecookbook.com/unagi-sauce-2/#wprm-recipe-60963-step-0-3’, ‘image’: ‘https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Unagi-Sauce-3.jpg’}
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Eel Sauce
Whip up a batch of this homemade Eel Sauce Recipe in just 15 minutes! Also known as Unagi Sauce, this dipping sauce recipe requires just 4 ingredients and makes the best sushi sauce. if you love Sweet Soy Glaze, you’ll love this one.
Prep: 2min
Total: 15min
Yield: 0.5
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 534 kcal, Carbohydrate 117 g, Protein 12 g, Fat 0.3 g, Saturated Fat 0.02 g, Sodium 7384 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 90 g, unSaturated Fat 0.12 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup Mirin
- 2½ Tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1½ Tbsp Sake
- ¼ cup Soy Sauce
Instruction:
- Add the mirin, sake, and sugar to a small saucepan and whisk over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes to let the sugar dissolve.
- Whisk in the soy sauce and let gently simmer for 10 minutes until thick. Remove from the heat and let cool to thicken further.
How to Make Eel Sauce | Sushi Lessons
FAQ
What is eel sauce made of?
Why is eel sauce called eel?
Is eel sauce just teriyaki sauce?
Is eel sauce just hoisin sauce?
