How to Make Unagi Donburi (Eel Rice Bowl): Grilling Eel and Eel Sauce

How to Make Unagi Donburi (Eel Rice Bowl): Grilling Eel and Eel Sauce

Sometimes, I find eel being sold at a good price online. I used to enjoy eel dishes at specialty restaurants, but lately, I've been grilling eel at home and making unagi donburi myself.

Since I love eel, I often prepare unagi donburi at home. It's not that difficult and makes for a convenient one-bowl meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 eel
• A bit of ginger
• 4 eggs
• Rice
• Sauce for unagi donburi: tsuyu, oyster sauce, corn syrup, sesame seeds, a bit of chives, mirin (cooking sake)

1. Prepare the Eel: Eating eel at a restaurant can be quite expensive, but ordering it online and cooking at home is much cheaper. The eel usually comes pre-cleaned, so you only need to rinse it lightly or just grill it. It's not difficult to prepare at home, so give it a try.

2. Make the Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons of tsuyu
• 1 tablespoon of mirin
• 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon of corn syrup Mix these ingredients to make the sauce for the unagi donburi.

1. Prepare the Chives: I used chives for the vegetables, finely chopping about five spoonfuls. You can also use green onions as an alternative.

2. Make the Egg Toppings: Beat four eggs and make a thin omelet in a pan. Once cooked, slice it into thin strips. The eggs add a nice, soft texture. I used four eggs for two servings, but you can use two eggs if you prefer.

3. Clean the Eel: If the eel is mostly cleaned, avoid washing it with water, as this can cause a fishy smell. Wipe it with a paper towel and use the back of a knife to scrape off any slime. The eel I bought was almost fully cleaned, so this step was minimal.

4. Grill the Eel: Lightly oil a pan. Eel releases a lot of oil, so you don't need much oil initially.

   • Place the eel skin-side down in the heated pan.
   • Once the underside is golden, flip it over to cook the other side.
   • I like my eel crispy, so I initially cook both sides until they're slightly crispy.
   • Cut the eel into bite-sized pieces with scissors. Continue grilling to your preferred level of crispiness.

5. Add the Sauce: Once the eel is grilled to your liking, add the sauce made earlier. Reduce the heat to low and let the eel absorb the sauce evenly.

6. Assemble the Donburi:

   • Place a suitable amount of rice in a bowl.
   • Add the egg strips on top of the rice.
   • Place the grilled eel on top of the eggs.
   • Garnish with chopped chives and julienned ginger (if available). Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top.

This homemade unagi donburi is not only delicious but also more affordable than dining out. If you have eel at home, give this recipe a try!

Hashtags: #Donburi #UnagiDonburi #EelRiceBowl #EelRecipe #SoySauceEel #EelStew #JapaneseRiceBowl