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How to Make Delicious, Authentic Japanese Teriyaki Eel Rice (Unagi Don) Easily at Home

How to Make Delicious, Authentic Japanese Teriyaki Eel Rice (Unagi Don) Easily at Home

Unagi Don, Japanese Teriyaki Eel Rice, is not just a dish but also a symbol of culinary sophistication from the Land of the Rising Sun. With the delicate sweetness of fresh eel combined with the rich, glossy flavor of Teriyaki sauce, this dish always holds a special appeal. If you love this dish and want to make it yourself, refer to the detailed instructions on how to make Japanese eel rice easily at home right here!

⛩ This article belongs to the JAPANESE FOOD CULTURE series 

This is a series of articles sharing interesting knowledge about the culture, dishes, and authentic recipes of the Land of the Rising Sun.

How to Make Japanese Grilled Eel Rice with Teriyaki Sauce

To fully enjoy the distinctive deliciousness of grilled eel rice with Teriyaki sauce, let’s explore the simple yet authentic steps below:

Ingredients

  • Eel: 500 grams 
  • White wine: 100 ml 
  • Cooked rice: 4 bowls 
  • Vinegar: 100 ml 
  • Mirin: 70 ml 
  • Sake: 50 ml
  • Ground pepper: 1/4 teaspoon 
  • Soy sauce: 100 ml 
  • White granulated sugar: 30 grams
The combination of eel, rice, and Japanese rice wines creates an appealing grilled eel rice with Teriyaki sauce
The combination of eel, rice, and Japanese rice wines creates an appealing grilled eel rice with Teriyaki sauce

Buy quality ingredients for Japanese grilled eel rice with Teriyaki sauce at great prices at Kamereo: 

Instructions

To personally prepare the appealing Japanese grilled eel rice with Teriyaki sauce, you need to follow these 05 steps:

Step 1. Prepare the eel:

  • After purchasing the eel, you need to clean the mucus by using a knife to separate the meat from the bones and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
  • Next, put the eel meat in a bowl with 100ml of white wine and 100ml of vinegar, and use your hands to rub the surface of the meat thoroughly to completely remove the mucus and fishy smell.
  • Finally, rinse the eel meat under cold running water and use paper towels to dry it completely.
Eel cleaned of mucus, filleted, and deodorized with white wine and vinegar
Eel cleaned of mucus, filleted, and deodorized with white wine and vinegar

💡Tip: To clean the eel of mucus and eliminate the fishy smell, you can rub the eel with salt, then rinse it with lemon juice and wash it thoroughly. Another way is to soak the eel in warm water for about 10 minutes to reduce the mucus.

Step 2. Make the Teriyaki sauce:

  • Pour 70ml of mirin, 50ml of sake, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper into a small saucepan, place it on the stove and bring it to a boil for about 10 minutes to allow some of the alcohol to evaporate.
  • Then, add 100ml of soy sauce and 30g of sugar to the pot, stirring well until the sauce boils and thickens, then turn off the heat.
Boiling mirin, sake, pepper, then adding soy sauce and sugar to make teriyaki sauce
Boiling mirin, sake, pepper, then adding soy sauce and sugar to make teriyaki sauce

Step 3. First grilling of the eel:

  • Preheat the oven for 15 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees Celsius.
  • Arrange the prepared eel pieces evenly on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil, then brush a thin layer of sake on the surface of the eel meat.
  • Place the eel tray in the oven and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes until the eel meat slightly firms up.
First grilling of the eel at 180 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes
First grilling of the eel at 180 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes

Step 4. Brush with sauce and second grilling of the eel:

  • Open the oven door and use a brush to evenly spread the prepared Teriyaki sauce all over the surface of the eel pieces.
  • Continue to bake the eel at 180 degrees Celsius for another 10 minutes, or until the eel meat is fully cooked and has a beautiful golden-brown color.
Eel evenly brushed with Teriyaki sauce and grilled a second time at 180 degrees Celsius for about 10 minutes

Step 5. Complete the dish and enjoy:

  • Put hot rice in a bowl and drizzle a suitable amount of Teriyaki sauce over it.
  • Place the delicious grilled eel pieces on top of the rice and add some garnish to make the dish more appealing.
Delicious and visually appealing Japanese grilled eel rice with Teriyaki sauce when completed
Delicious and visually appealing Japanese grilled eel rice with Teriyaki sauce when completed

How to Make Japanese Braised Eel Rice in a Pan Without an Oven

Below are detailed instructions so you can personally prepare the flavorful Japanese braised eel rice in a pan right at home:

Ingredients

  • Eel: 1/2 piece
  • Teriyaki sauce: 4 teaspoons
  • Palm syrup: 1 teaspoon
  • Oyster sauce: 2 teaspoons
  • Sesame oil: 1 tablespoon
  • Roasted white sesame seeds: a little
  • Onion powder: 1 teaspoon
  • Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
  • Ginger powder: 1 teaspoon
  • Garlic: 1 clove (crushed)
  • White rice: 1 bowl (rice bowl)
Homemade flavorful braised eel rice with easy-to-find ingredients
Homemade flavorful braised eel rice with easy-to-find ingredients

Buy quality, affordable ingredients for Japanese braised eel rice at Kamereo:

Instructions

According to the recipe shared by diners, the delicious and flavorful Japanese Teriyaki eel rice needs to be prepared in 3 main steps:

Step 1. Prepare and marinate the eel:

  • First, you need to clean the eel thoroughly after purchasing it to ensure hygiene and remove any fishy smell.
  • Next, use a knife to cut the eel into bite-sized pieces, carefully removing the bones at the same time.
  • After completing the preparation stage, marinate the eel meat with spices including 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of ginger powder.
  • To allow the eel meat to absorb the flavors evenly, let it marinate for about 10 minutes before moving on to the next cooking step.
Eel cleaned thoroughly, cut into pieces, deboned, and marinated with spices for 10 minutes
Eel cleaned thoroughly, cut into pieces, deboned, and marinated with spices for 10 minutes

💡Tip: You can completely replace the powdered spices with minced fresh onion, garlic, and ginger according to your personal preference to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Step 2. Braise the eel with Teriyaki sauce:

  • Start by placing a non-stick pan on the gas stove, then add a little sesame oil and sauté the crushed garlic until fragrant to create a distinctive aroma.
  • When the garlic is fragrant, add the marinated eel meat to the pan and stir-fry evenly until the eel meat slightly firms up, then remove it to a plate.
  • Next, add the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce to the pan in the following order: 4 teaspoons of teriyaki sauce, 2 teaspoons of oyster sauce, and 2 teaspoons of palm syrup.
  • Stir the sauce mixture over the heat for about 3 to 5 minutes to allow the flavors to blend together.
  • Once the sauce has thickened, add the stir-fried eel meat back into the pan and simmer over low heat.
  • While simmering, stir gently and evenly so that the eel meat is fully coated with the sauce.
  • When you see the sauce start to reduce and thicken, this is the time to sprinkle in a little roasted white sesame seeds to add more flavor and appeal to the dish.
  • Before turning off the heat, you should taste and adjust the seasoning to suit your family’s taste.
Marinating eel with teriyaki sauce, oyster sauce, and palm syrup
Marinating eel with teriyaki sauce, oyster sauce, and palm syrup

Step 3. Enjoy the finished product:

  • The teriyaki eel dish will be most flavorful when eaten hot with white rice.
  • In addition, you can also transform this dish into an appealing sushi dish. To make eel sushi rice, simply blanch some scallions in boiling water, then roll the braised eel meat with rice for a new and interesting dish.
Enjoying hot teriyaki eel rice with white rice

Buy Ingredients for Authentic Japanese Unagi Don (Eel Rice) at Kamereo

Kamereo is a pioneering application in the field of wholesale food supply, especially targeting businesses operating in the F&B industry. As a strategic partner of Gyomu Japan, Kamereo is proud to offer high-quality and reliable Japanese ingredients. A rigorous inspection process is applied throughout, combined with a modern storage system, ensuring that all ingredients are always fresh and up to standard.

Aiming to become an “All-in-One Supplier,” Kamereo not only provides fresh and frozen ingredients but also expands its product catalog to meet all the needs of F&B businesses. From a variety of beverage ingredients to specialized kitchen utensils, everything is intelligently integrated on a single platform.

Kamereo is a strategic partner of Gyomu Japan, providing wholesale quality food for the F&B industry
Kamereo is a strategic partner of Gyomu Japan, providing wholesale quality food for the F&B industry

Kamereo’s outstanding difference compared to traditional supply methods is the application of technology in the procurement process. The intuitive website and mobile application not only support businesses in placing orders but also provide powerful management tools. Notable among these are the multi-store management feature, flexible order approval process, detailed cost tracking, and in-depth data analysis.

Kamereo also focuses on committing to absolute stability and reliability in its supply. The flexible order support service is available until 12 midnight, along with a commitment to fast delivery before 6 am the next day. This ensures that F&B businesses are always proactive in preparing ingredients for the new day.

Best selling authentic Japanese domestic products at Kamereo:

Conclusion

Above are detailed instructions on how to make Japanese eel rice. Hopefully, this will help you confidently prepare this dish at home or choose a suitable place to enjoy it. To ensure authentic Japanese and fresh ingredients, you can find them at Kamereo. Don’t forget to explore more recipes and helpful tips in our Food and Lifestyle section!

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Cẩm Tú

As a content writer with a deep passion for culinary culture, I constantly seek inspiration from real-life experiences and innovations in the F&B industry. I believe that cuisine is not merely a story of flavors but also a reflection of culture, creativity, and social trends. Through each article, I hope to provide readers with valuable information and inspiration on the Kamereo website.View Author posts