Unagi Don (Grilled Eel Rice Bowl)

 Unagi Don

Unagi Don is a traditional Japanese rice bowl topped with tender grilled eel glazed in a sweet soy based sauce. Rich, smoky, and luxurious, it’s often enjoyed as a summer stamina dish.

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time minutes

30 minutes

CourseMain Dish / Rice Bowl

Servings4

Ingredients

Unagi

• 4 grilled eel fillets (unagi kabayaki, store-bought)

Sauce

• ½ cup unagi sauce (kabayaki sauce)

Rice

• 4 cups cooked Japanese short-grain rice

Garnish

• Sesame seeds
• Chopped green onions
• Sansho pepper (optional)

Instructions

Heat unagi

• Preheat oven or grill to medium.
• Brush eel with unagi sauce.
• Heat 5–7 minutes until glossy and hot.

Prepare rice

• Divide hot rice into bowls.

Assemble

• Slice eel into bite-size pieces.
• Place over rice.
• Drizzle extra sauce on top.

Garnish & serve

• Sprinkle sesame seeds, green onions, and sansho pepper.

Small Notes :

• Store-bought unagi saves time and keeps it authentic.
• Do not overcook or eel will dry.
• Sansho adds a citrusy, peppery aroma.
• Serve immediately while hot.