Some people might turn their noses up at the mere thought of eel sauce, but truth be told, there’s no actual eel in this umami-laden sauce. In fact, it’s a delightfully rich, sweet sauce that’s the perfect accompaniment for sushi, dumplings, and spring rolls.
Also known as unagi sauce, eel sauce makes for a great dipping sauce or addition to stir-fries. It’s also an amazing marinade! Once you make this super versatile sauce, you’ll want to try adding it to all sorts of savory dishes.
What is Eel Sauce?
Eel sauce is a simple sauce that is both sweet and savory. It has a thick consistency and complements seafood dishes particularly well, but can be used as a condiment on proteins like chicken or pork, and vegetables as well.
While this sauce is typically a combination of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin, this recipe also uses cornstarch to thicken it. If you prefer, you can omit the cornstarch and allow it to thicken naturally as it cools.
Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to whip up this savory sauce.
- Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is the base of eel sauce. It adds rich umami flavor. I prefer using a light soy sauce, but you can use any type you prefer.
- Sugar – Sugar is key for giving the sauce its sticky texture which helps it to act as a sort of glaze on anything it is poured on.
- Mirin – Mirin, a sweet rice wine that is similar to sake, balances the sauce with its acidity. If you want to skip the alcohol, use rice vinegar instead.
- Cornstarch (Optional) – While optional, I like to use a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce. Be sure to always mix the cornstarch with water before adding it to the sauce to prevent lumps from forming.
What To Serve Eel Sauce With
It should come as no surprise that eel sauce is a classic condiment to serve with eel! But, it is also a perfect pairing with sushi rolls, grilled fish, or a salmon poke bowl.
You can also drizzle it over soba noodles or fried rice, or mix it into a stir fry. And, if you’re looking for a way to dress up roasted veggies, it can do that, too!
How to Make Eel Sauce
With just a few quick steps, this sauce couldn’t be easier to make.
- Heat ingredients in pan. Add the soy sauce, sugar, and mirin to a small saucepan and stir to combine. While whisking, heat the mixture until it comes to a simmer.
- Make slurry. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, make the slurry by combining the cornstarch and water in a separate bowl.
- Add slurry to sauce. Whisk the slurry into the soy sauce mixture. Take the pan off of the stove and allow it to thicken.
- Use or store. When the sauce has thickened, use it immediately or store once cooled to room temperature.
Variations
You can jazz up this eel sauce with all sorts of swaps and add-ins.
- Heat – Add a bit of sriracha to spice up the sauce.
- Garlic – For garlicky flavor, sprinkle in some garlic powder or mix in minced garlic.
- Brightness – Squeeze in some citrus to brighten up the sauce. Orange juice, lemon juice, or lime juice all work well.
- Warmth – Add warm flavor to the sauce by grating in some ginger.
- Sweetness – Replace some or all of the sugar with honey for a different flavor profile.
- Herbaceousness – Stir in some fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro.
Storage and Freezing
You can easily store this sauce so that it’s ready whenever you need it!
Make eel sauce according to the recipe and allow it to cool before refrigerating or freezing it. Then, keep it handy for adding to meals throughout the week.
How to Store Eel Sauce
Store eel sauce in the fridge for up to one week in an airtight container.
Can I Freeze Eel Sauce?
Freeze this sauce for up to 3 months in a resealable plastic bag, freezer-safe container, or ice cube tray.
Common Questions About Eel Sauce
Eel sauce is a simple blend of mirin, soy sauce, and sugar. Some recipes may include a cornstarch slurry to more quickly thicken the sauce.
Eel sauce is not the same as teriyaki sauce. Teriyaki sauce uses brown sugar instead of granulated sugar and eel sauce can have a slightly saltier flavor.
Eel sauce does not contain any fish, so it is not fishy.
More Asian-Inspired Homemade Sauces
Sauces can elevate just about any meal- especially when they’re homemade! Here are a few of our favorite Asian-inspired sauces.
Homemade Szechuan Sauce Recipe
Curry Sauce Recipe
Egg Roll Dipping Sauce Recipe
Homemade Eel Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup soy sauce*
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup mirin
- 1 tablespoons cornstarch optional
Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce, sugar and mirin in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat, whisking continuously until sugar has dissolved. Watch carefully, sugar has the tendency to burn or bubble over even at low heats. If it starts to build, remove from the heating element immediately.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and then whisk this into the eel sauce. Continue to whisk for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat. The sauce will thicken as it cools. It can also be placed in the fridge to speed up the process.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
Never tried eel sauce before. Sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing.
This sauce is amazing! My family loves it over cooked shrimp! Thank you for this recipe!
This definetely sounds like my kind of sauce. Yummy! Can’t wait to try it!
This was so good and surprisingly easy to make. Def gonna try out the flavor variations next.
This was so easy to make and so delicious too! I had it as a dip on the side of sushi. It was incredible!