Unagi Don

Indulge in the rich, savory flavors of Unagi Don, a classic Japanese rice bowl featuring tender, grilled eel glazed with a homemade unagi sauce. This recipe brings together perfectly caramelized eel fillets, basted with a sweet and savory blend of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar, all served atop steaming bowls of fluffy white rice. The dish is finished with a drizzle of extra sauce and a sprinkle of sansho pepper for a subtle, citrusy heat that elevates every bite. With just 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking time, this restaurant-worthy dish is surprisingly easy to make at home. Perfect for a comforting dinner or a special occasion, Unagi Don is a flavorful celebration of Japanese cuisine that will leave everyone asking for seconds.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 2 pieces fresh eel fillets
• 60 ml soy sauce
• 60 ml mirin
• 30 ml sake
• 30 g sugar
• 4 cups steamed white rice
• 1 pinch sansho pepper

Directions

Step 1

Start by preparing the unagi sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar.

Step 2

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer while stirring occasionally until the sugar fully dissolves.

Step 3

Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer gently for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened, then set aside.

Step 4

Preheat a grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat.

Step 5

Place the eel fillets on the grill, skin side down, and cook for about 5 minutes.

Step 6

Carefully flip the eel fillets and brush with the prepared unagi sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes, basting occasionally with more sauce.

Step 7

Turn down the heat to low and let the eel cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, ensuring the glaze caramelizes slightly but does not burn.

Step 8

Remove the eel from the grill, and slice into bite-sized strips.

Step 9

To serve, divide the steamed rice evenly into two bowls.

Step 10

Arrange the sliced eel neatly over the top of the rice in each bowl.

Step 11

Drizzle each serving with more unagi sauce, and finish with a pinch of sansho pepper for added flavor.

Step 12

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1037.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1568.6

Total Fat 25.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6g
Cholesterol 252mg	0%
Sodium 4034.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 250.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.1g	0%
Total Sugars 63.0g
Protein 60.3g	0%

Vitamin D 1864IU	0%
Calcium 127.7mg	0%
Iron 9.7mg	0%
Potassium 959.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 15.6%

Protein: 16.4%

Carbs: 68.0%