Unagi, or freshwater eel, is a popular summertime food in Japan to combat the summer heat. It has a rich flavor thanks to its natural fattiness and the sweet soy sauce-based glaze.
Unagi (うなぎ, 鰻) refers to freshwater eel, and it is hugely popular in Japanese cuisine. As the blood contains a neurotoxin that can be lethal, it’s always cooked and never served raw. While it’s available year-round, its popularity soars during the hot and humid Japanese summers for its various health benefits. It’s usually cooked grilled or steamed in skewers with a sweet basting sauce.
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What Is Unagi
Unagi refers to both the name of the freshwater eel (Anguilla japonica) and also the dish. It’s a wild-caught eel that’s cultivated from May to October.
It is generally considered summer food in Japan, although it’s available year-round. The Japanese consume it on the Day of the Ox (土用の丑, doyo no ushi), a custom that hails back to the Edo period (1603-1867) as it is believed to provide stamina and energy. You can even find specialty unagi restaurants devoted to unagi dishes.
One of the time-honored preparations is kabayaki (蒲焼), filleted, grilled, and brushed with a sweet soy reduction.
Popular dishes include unadon or unaju (鰻丼・鰻重), unagi nigiri (鰻握り), shirayaki (白焼, roasted and seasoned unagi with salt), hone senbei (骨煎餅, deep-fried bones, great with sake) and kimosui (肝水, a clear soup with boiled livers).
🍚 Read about the JOC family’s trip to Shizuoka and eating grilled eel at a specialty restaurant in Hamamatsu.
What Does It Taste
As one of the fattiest foods from the ocean, its flavor is similar to white fish but much sweeter. The tiny bones are tender to eat. When cooked over charcoal, the texture is fluffy, flaky, tender, and juicy. It doesn’t have a fishy aftertaste like a saltwater eel.
Unagi is a luxurious treat, with its irresistible smoky aroma from grilling and the sweet-savory sauce.
Difference Between Anago and Unagi
Don’t confuse it with anago (穴子), saltwater eel. Both are essential in Japanese food culture but are cooked and treated differently.
Anago is commonly deep-fried as tempura or simmered. The texture is flakier and drier. It’s also a popular nigiri sushi offering. Unagi is oilier and has a much richer, bold flavor.
The Future Of Unagi
Sadly, the popularity of the Japanese eel has resulted in a rapid decline in its population. It’s also the reason why Japanese unagi is so expensive. The Japanese government declared it an endangered species in 2013, and Seafood Watch encourages buyers to avoid unagi. Farmed eels in other parts of the world, such as China, the U.S., and the U.K., are seeing similar declines due to overfishing.
How To Cook With Unagi
You will find it pre-cooked (steamed or grilled) and sometimes already seasoned with eel sauce. For the ultimate experience, wash off the sweet sauce and cook it in homemade unagi sauce, which consists of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar cooked to a syrup-like consistency.
Where To Buy
You can find vacuum-sealed frozen or refrigerated unagi at most Japanese and Asian supermarkets and perhaps some seafood specialty stores. You might be able to find it fresh and unseasoned.
How To Choose The Best
When buying it, first check its origins. Cheaper unagi is most likely imported from China, South Korea, or Taiwan.
Other types of edible eel include longfin eel, European eel, and American eel. While a similar species, they are usually farmed and not caught wild.
How To Store
Store the package in the same environment you bought it in, whether in the freezer or refrigerator. Consume cooked unagi within a few days, and do not freeze leftovers.
Substitutions
A similar substitution is anago and you can easily swap it for rice bowls, sushi rolls, and more without a noticeable difference.
Health Benefits
It contains high amounts of protein, calcium, vitamin A, and other minerals. As one of the richest foods from the ocean, it is also rich in EPA and DHA fatty acids, which are great for brain development and help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Nutrient-rich, it’s no wonder the Japanese consume it during the muggy summers.
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