What is Unagi?

Unagi is the name of the freshwater eel indigenous to Japan, parts of China and Korea. In Japanese, Unagi is a general word for the freshwater eel of any origin, but in the international culinary lexicon came to represent a specific type of eel. The term is well known throughout the global cooking community as a specifically Japanese eel preparation. It is very common in sushi, soups or grilled and served through rice.

There are two main types of eel: those that live in fresh water and those living in seawater. The freshwater eels indigenous for Japan are scientifically classified as anguilla japonica . This type of eel lives in shallow mouths along the coast of Japan, East China and the Korean Peninsula. The eels migrate to salt water to reproduce, then returned to rivers and streams to live their lives. Compared to eels in other parts of the world, it is one of the smallest.

The freshwater eel is considered to be dells in Japanese cuisine partly toThe will of how expensive they are eel. Eel Farms exist in many parts of Japan, but their operation is costly. As carnivores, eels need a significant amount of protein every day to be successful. Demand usually also requires a regular harvest from EEL natural habitats.

Most Unagi is ready with the grill. The meat is usually cut into very thin, then grilled or grilled on each side and the meat cooks meat. The sweet marinade known as the eel sauce is a common accompaniment to UnaGi. Precise recipes of eel sauce differ, but usually include eel, soy sauce and sweet rice vinegar. This sauce is usually added to a series of Japanese seafood, including fish and molluscs.

One of the most traditional ways to serve UnaGi is simply to lay marinated boiled strips over a rice bed. Such preparation is common in home cooking in Beno boxes - which are JapanKé lunch boxes - as in restaurants. Nuodlesse soup usually includes an eel and is often served separately.

Eel is rarely administered raw in Japanese cooking. Even in sushi, eel is usually cooked, then either converted to sushi Maki mono , or is served on a small rice pad nigiri style, often anchored by a thin belt of seaweed. Unagi Sushi is largely one of the most common sushi meals outside Japan because it is cooked. It's the first step for many beginners Sushi.

worldwide popularity of UnaGi Sushi has led to some concern about the sustainability of the Japanese eel harvest. Many nature conservationists are afraid that growing demand will lead to excessive harvest and exhaust the indigenous population. The loss of habitats due to human development of soil surrounding many freshwater mouths also led to a general decrease in the size of the population of eel.