unadon (grilled eel rice bowl) is a well-liked Japanese delicacy you could simply make at residence for lunch or dinner. This scrumptious unagi bowl options completely grilled eel fillets, glazed with my do-it-yourself unagi sauce and on a mattress of sizzling steamed rice. the attractive aroma of the candy caramelized frosting is sufficient to make your mouth water!
Unagi sushi is a staple at most sushi eating places, however have you ever tried the unagi rice bowl earlier than? This basic Japanese dish is named unadon (鰻丼) or unaju (鰻重), otherwise you would possibly comprehend it as eel rice.
The Japanese have a particular fondness for unadon as a result of the satisfaction of consuming completely grilled unagi on a mattress of heat rice is incomparable. oh, and the aroma of the candy caramelized sauce… that alone is sufficient to make your mouth water.
what’s unadon (unaju)?
A don or grilled eel rice bowl is a extremely regarded Japanese dish consisting of steamed rice topped with grilled eels which can be glazed with a sweetened soy-based mostly sauce (known as tare) and caramelized, ideally over a charcoal fireplace.
When grilled unagi is served in a big rice bowl known as a donburi, we name it unadon (鰻丼), an abbreviation for unagi donburi. When the unagi is served in a chic rectangular lacquered field with the lid on, we name it unaju (鰻重) as a result of these packing containers are known as jubako (重箱).
how eels are cooked
This specific cooking technique is named kabayaki(蒲焼), much like teriyaki. It’s a quite common means of making ready eels and different fish in Japan.
That is how unagi cooks put together eels. dwell eels are break up down the again (or stomach), gutted and boned, butterflyed, and reduce into sq. fillets. then the fillets are skewered, dipped in a candy soy-based mostly sauce, and grilled on a charcoal grill.
Within the Tokyo area, skewered eel is first grilled with out the sauce and we name it shirayaki (白焼き). the unagi is then steamed, earlier than being dipped within the sauce and grilled once more.
eating at unagi restaurant in japan
Once you go to unagi specialty eating places in Japan, the menu often presents unadon and unaju and there are 3 ranges for the value, whether or not you order unadon or unaju.
- the premium grade is named tokujo (特上) or matsu (松, pine)
- the higher grade is named jo (上) or take (竹, bamboo)
- the common grade is named nami (並) or ume (梅, plum)
- unagi (eel) fillets
- unagi sauce – you will get a bottle of eel sauce, nevertheless it’s very straightforward to make at residence (I am going to present you!)
- steamed rice
- make the do-it-yourself eel sauce (see under).
- Grill the eel fillets and brush on the eel sauce simply earlier than eradicating.
- serve the rice in a big rice bowl (donburi), brush with the sauce, and serve the eel fillets on prime.
Based on unagi eating places, the value is usually associated to the burden (amount) of the unagi and never essentially the standard of the unagi.
custom: consuming unagi on midsummer day
unagi (freshwater eel) is taken into account an costly delicacy in japan and isn’t an on a regular basis dish. I did some fast analysis and located that 26.2% of individuals eat unagi “about as soon as each 6 months”, adopted by “as soon as each 2-3 months” at 16.8%, “lower than yearly” with 16.1% and “yearly” at 15.8%.
so when do most individuals eat unagi? you may see huge banners and carts of eel packages in supermarkets simply earlier than a mid-summer season day.
for the reason that edo interval (1600-1850), we have now a convention of consuming unagi on a specific day in mid-summer season known as doyō-no ushi-no-hello (土用の丑の日) to Achieve stamina to beat the warmth. in 2021, it falls till July 28.
Wealthy in nutritional vitamins A and E, and omega-3 fatty acids, eel’s nice dietary advantages are one more reason the Japanese like to eat unagi.
find out how to make a bowl of rice with grilled eel at residence
elements you will want
Japanese residence cooks do not buy a dwell eel to prepare dinner at residence. they purchase grilled eel fillets and simply reheat them earlier than serving. right here in usa Within the US, you should purchase vacuum-sealed grilled eels at Japanese/Asian supermarkets or at this on-line retailer.
my native japanese supermarkets promote unagi imported from japan (all from kagoshima prefecture) and are often round $30-40 every (in comparison with frozen eels from different international locations, that are round $10 every). If you will discover Japanese unagi at your native market, you are in for an actual deal with!
abstract: cooking step
find out how to make do-it-yourself eel sauce (unagi no tare)
Right this moment I’ll share find out how to make unadon with my do-it-yourself eel sauce (unagi sauce). you should purchase a bottle of unagi sauce at a Japanese/Asian market, however you’ll be able to simply make it at residence. all you want is soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar!
With simply 4 elements, you’ll be able to shortly whip up a candy caramelized sauce to taste grilled eel. if I’ve any unagi sauce left over, I am going to additionally use it to brush my grilled rice balls to make yaki onigiri.
what to serve with a don
you’ll be able to serve it with miso soup, some form of pickles and a few small garnishes like spinach with sesame sauce or kinpira rekon.
It takes minimal effort to make a scrumptious donut, and it truly is value making at residence!
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Replace: Put up was initially printed on Could 31, 2012. Recipe up to date July 2012. Photos and weblog content material up to date July 2021.
