Eel Sauce

Eel sauce is a sweet and sticky Japanese glaze made of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. This eel sauce recipe is made without mirin and tastes like the thickened sweet soy sauce drizzled over sushi rolls! Use for grilling, fish (Kabayaki), Lo mein, or as a favorite teriyaki sauce in Chinese food. You will love this easy eel sauce and it lasts super long when stored in the fridge! 

Homemade eel sauce can be used on Sushi, in Chicken Lo Mein, as a Japanese cooking sauce for Unagi (freshwater eel), and in many other dishes like Baked Teriyaki Salmon, these Teriyaki Wings, or anywhere you would use hoisin sauce or oyster sauce but way better!

What is Eel Sauce?

What is eel sauce made of? Eel sauce is very similar to a Japanese dipping sauce called Tare sauce or sometimes called Unagi sauce, it is mainly of soy sauce, sake (or mirin), and sugar. It is also thickened by cooking down the sauce to make a sticky glaze and is popular in Japanese fish dishes (like sushi, Unagi Don, or Kabayaki).

Although it sounds like “fish” sauce what is in eel sauce is actually contrary to, “Nitsume Sauce” which is actually a Japanese sauce using real eel or eel broth. So no, eel sauce does not have actual “eel” in it.

What Does Eel Sauce Taste Like?

If you’ve ever had sushi, eel sauce is the black glaze over sushi rolls. It’s incredibly tasty over Sushi rice and Seafood and has a sweet and savory flavor. To better describe the umami taste it’s sour, salty, sweet, and a smidge bitter but so incredibly good that you’ll probably want it over Korean BBQ, Grilled shrimp, and so much more! It’s not too sweet and is Vegetarian, gluten-free (if using tamari or liquid amino), and keto approved!

How To Make Eel Sauce Without Mirin:

You will find most eel sauce ingredients call for sake or mirin which is basically a Japanese rice wine made by fermenting rice. Both are very similar only mirin is much sweeter and not as strong as sake. I’ve come to learn that the perfect Substitute for Rice Vinegar is apple cider vinegar which works just as great. After all, it does taste like the thick sauce over sushi rolls, only without the specialty ingredients!

Eel Sauce Ingredients:

The ingredients in eel sauce are so simple and basic thanks to the sake substitute! Everything is probably sitting right in your pantry and it only takes minutes to make before serving homemade sushi rolls!

• Soy Sauce: I used the traditionally brewed Kikkoman soy sauce for making this eel sauce. Soy sauce is a Chinese condiment sold in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores. It’s strong in umami taste and is an all-purpose seasoning.
• Sugar: granulated sugar is the choice of sweetener here to create a shiny glaze.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: is the perfect eel sauce substitute for sake or mirin.

How To Make Eel Sauce:

This recipe for eel sauce takes minutes to make using a simple saucepan, and whisk! Eel sauce thickens as it sits so make eel sauce for at least 20 minutes before serving if you are wanting to drizzle it over food for a glaze otherwise cook with it as you would for a stir fry, marinade, or fish dish.

1. Combine the soy sauce, sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a 2-quart saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and boil over high for 7 minutes, whisking constantly. Don’t boil for too long, the sauce gets too thick at the 10-minute mark.
3. Turn off the heat and allow the sauce to thicken as it sits.
4. Pour the sauce into a Plastic Condiment Squeeze Bottle and keep refrigerated.

 

How Long Does Eel Sauce Last?

This homemade eel sauce will last for months in the fridge due to the high sugar content (that works like a preservative.) Because soy sauce and apple cider vinegar are fermented products they are self-preserving in this sauce especially considering that apple cider vinegar is more alkaline than pure vinegar. Once cooked together it is important to keep eel sauce refrigerated. This sauce will last easily for 2 months if stored in a squeeze bottle or air-tight food container.

You can also freeze eel sauce in a freezer bag if you are not planning to use it within the first couple of months. To revive, simply thaw it overnight in the fridge and pour out the contents into a saucepan to reheat.

Creative Ways to Use Up Eel Sauce:

Need ways to use up eel sauce recipes? You can make so many Asian recipes with eel sauce so, don’t think it’s only for eel or sushi sauce! It’s excellent for marinating poultry, meat, and fish! Use it to enhance soups, drizzle it over roasted vegetables, or dip and glaze sushi rolls with it! Here are some ideas;

• Use it as the base sauce for Lo Mein by replacing hoisin or oyster sauce
• Replace any teriyaki sauce with it
• Drizzle it over salads or sushi bowls
• Serve it as a side to Spicy Mayo for dipping sushi rolls
• Marinade and bake chicken wings in it

 

 

  Did you like this Japanese eel sauce? Tell me what you made this eel sauce for besides sushi in the comments below!  

How To Make Eel Sauce: