Eel sauce is the sweet, sticky glaze on dragon rolls and grilled eel, and it is one of the questions we hear most at our sauce shelf: is eel sauce halal? The short answer is that most eel sauce is not, because it is traditionally made with mirin and sake, which are both rice wines. The good news is you do not have to give it up. Our Nitsume eel sauce is halal-certified, with no alcohol, no wine and no spirit vinegar, and it is on the shelf now at Think GG Cash & Carry in Longsight, Manchester.
What is eel sauce
Eel sauce is also called unagi sauce, kabayaki sauce, nitsume or tsume. It is a thick, sweet and salty glaze based on soy sauce and sugar, reduced until it coats the back of a spoon. Despite the name, most eel sauce contains no eel. It is named after the dish it is used on, grilled eel.
Why most eel sauce is not halal
The traditional recipe reduces soy sauce and sugar with mirin and sake. Even when the alcohol is cooked down, many Muslim customers and halal kitchens avoid it, and labels do not always make it clear. Check the ingredients for:
- Mirin, hon mirin or mirin-style seasoning
- Sake, rice wine or cooking wine
- Alcohol or ethanol, sometimes listed as a preservative
- Spirit vinegar
Soy sauce can raise the same question. Our guide on how to read a soy sauce label explains what to look for.
Our halal-certified eel sauce
Nitsume Thick eel sauce is made by Otafuku and is part of our halal sauce range. Every sauce in the range is halal-certified and made with no alcohol, no wine and no spirit vinegar. Certificates are available on request.
It is thick and glossy, so it clings to rolls instead of running off. It is made for sushi, sushi rolls and grilled eel, mackerel and chicken.
How to use it
- Sushi rolls and sushi bakes: drizzle in thin zig-zags just before serving.
- Grilled eel rice bowls: see the recipe below.
- Chicken skewers: brush it on in the last minute of grilling for a sticky, caramelised finish.
- Grilled mackerel: the sweetness balances the rich fish.
- Rice and poke bowls: a spoonful pulls the whole bowl together.
Recipe: 10 minute unadon
Serves 1.
Ingredients
- 1 pack Omakase Roasted Eel Unagi Slice, from our Omakase by Cupid range
- 1 bowl of cooked Japanese short-grain rice
- 2 to 3 tbsp Nitsume eel sauce
- Toasted sesame seeds and sliced spring onion
Method
- Heat the eel following the instructions on the pack.
- Brush it with eel sauce and grill for about 1 minute until bubbling and lightly caramelised.
- Drizzle 1 tbsp of sauce over the hot rice.
- Slice the eel, lay it on the rice and brush with a little more sauce.
- Finish with sesame seeds and spring onion.
Eel sauce vs teriyaki sauce
Eel sauce is thicker and sweeter and is used as a finishing glaze. Teriyaki sauce is thinner and is used as a marinade and cooking glaze for chicken, salmon and stir-fries. Many kitchens keep both. Our teriyaki sauce is part of the same range, and our teriyaki guide shows how to use it.
Making eel sauce at home without mirin
Simmer soy sauce and sugar with an alcohol-free sweet seasoning such as our Japanese Sweet Seasoning, then reduce until thick. Our mirin substitute guide explains the options. For restaurants, a ready-made sauce saves time and tastes the same every service.
For more ideas, see our guides to making chicken katsu at home, making halal ramen at home and choosing tobiko, masago or Masagi.
Frequently asked questions
Is unagi sauce the same as eel sauce?
Yes. Unagi is the Japanese word for eel, so unagi sauce and eel sauce are the same glaze. It is also called nitsume, tsume or kabayaki sauce.
Does eel sauce contain eel?
Usually not. It is named after grilled eel, the dish it is traditionally served with.
Where can I buy halal eel sauce in Manchester?
At Think GG Cash & Carry in Longsight. Trade buyers across the UK can contact us for a quote.
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