Unagi (Japanese Eel) Sushi Roll Dinner
This sweet, bold, and rich Unagi (Japanese eel) sushi roll is a perfect dinner everyone will love and enjoy. It’s a popular sushi takeout dish that’s easy to make at home, combining the unique flavor of grilled eel with creamy avocado, crunchy cucumber, and fresh sushi rice.
Equipment
- 1 Toaster Oven or Oven For broiling the eel to get a crispy finish.
- 1 Bamboo Sushi Mat For rolling the sushi to get perfect rolls.
- 1 Sharp Knife For cutting the rolls into bite-sized pieces.
Ingredients
- 1.5 tbsp Sugar For seasoning the rice.
- 1 tsp Salt For seasoning the rice.
- 1.5 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar For seasoning the rice.
- 1.5 tbsp Rice Vinegar For seasoning the rice.
- 3 cups Cooked Short-Grain Rice Brown or white sushi rice.
- 4 sheets Nori seaweed sheets For wrapping the sushi rolls.
- 1 Cooked Unagi Eel Vacuum packed frozen unagi works well.
- 1 English Cucumber Cut into thin match sticks.
- ½ Avocado Cut into strips.
- ½ Red Bell Pepper Cut into thin strips.
- 1 Wasabi For serving.
- 1 Soy Sauce For serving.
Instructions
- Cook the Unagi:
- Preheat the toaster oven or regular oven. Cook the vacuum-packed eel as per the package instructions, broiling it towards the end to caramelize the teriyaki glaze.
- Prepare the Sushi Rice:
- Mix the sugar, salt, apple cider vinegar, and rice vinegar in a small bowl until dissolved. Combine the mixture with the cooked rice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Prepare the Vegetables:
- Cut the cucumber and red bell pepper into thin match sticks and the avocado into strips.
- Assemble the Sushi Rolls:
- Place a sheet of nori on the bamboo sushi mat. Spread ¼ of the seasoned sushi rice onto the nori, leaving about an inch of space at the top to seal the roll.
- Place the cooked unagi, cucumber, red bell pepper, and avocado strips on the rice.
- Carefully roll the sushi using the bamboo mat, applying a gentle squeeze.
- Cut and Serve:
- Wet a sharp knife with water to prevent sticking, then slice the roll into bite-sized pieces.
- Serve the rolls with wasabi and soy sauce.
Notes
- Eel can be purchased pre-cooked or vacuum-sealed, which simplifies the process. The broiling step is essential to caramelize the sauce and enhance the flavor.
- Customization options: You can add other vegetables like carrots, or substitute the eel for shrimp or other fish for variation.
- Rice seasoning: Always adjust the amount of vinegar mixture to suit your taste preferences. Some may prefer a sweeter or tangier rice flavor.