How to Make Eel Sauce

Hey there readers, are you a fan of sushi or Asian cuisine? If you are, then you must have tried eel sauce at least once. Eel sauce is a sweet, thick, and savory sauce that is commonly used in Japanese cuisine, particularly in sushi rolls. It is also called unagi sauce, as it is often served with unagi (freshwater eel). If you’re wondering how to make this delicious sauce at home, then read on!

Ingredients

To make eel sauce, you need the following ingredients: – 1/2 cup soy sauce- 1/2 cup mirin- 1/2 cup sake- 1/2 cup sugar- 1/2 cup eel stock (optional)Eel stock is an optional ingredient, but it adds a unique flavor to the sauce. You can find eel stock in Japanese grocery stores, or you can make it at home by boiling eel bones or heads in water.

Steps

Now, let’s get started with the steps to make eel sauce: 1. In a saucepan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. 2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. 3. Once the sugar is dissolved, reduce the heat to low and simmer the mixture for about 20-30 minutes. 4. Keep stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning or sticking to the pan. 5. As the sauce thickens, add the eel stock and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes. 6. When the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, remove it from the heat and let it cool. 7. Once the sauce is cooled, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any impurities or lumps. 8. Store the sauce in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Tips

– If you don’t have mirin or sake, you can substitute them with dry sherry or white wine. – If you don’t have eel stock, you can use chicken or vegetable stock instead. – You can adjust the sweetness or saltiness of the sauce by adding more sugar or soy sauce, respectively. – To make the sauce even thicker, you can add a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) to the sauce while it’s simmering. – Eel sauce can also be used as a marinade for grilled or roasted meats, vegetables, or tofu.

Conclusion

Making eel sauce at home is easy and requires only a few ingredients. You can use this sauce in various dishes, not just in sushi rolls. With the tips above, you can customize the sauce to your liking and experiment with different flavors. So, next time you’re craving some sushi or Japanese cuisine, try making your own eel sauce and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills. See you in the next article with more interesting topics!