Eel sauce, also known as unagi sauce, kabayaki sauce, or nitsume, is a thickened, sweet, and savory Japanese sauce commonly used as a glaze for grilled eel (unagi) dishes and as a drizzle over sushi or other foods
. Despite its name, eel sauce does not contain any eel; the name refers to its traditional use with eel dishes rather than its ingredients
. The sauce is typically made from just three main ingredients: soy sauce, mirin (a sweet rice wine), and sugar. These ingredients are simmered and reduced until the sauce thickens to a syrup-like consistency with a glossy sheen
. Sometimes cornstarch is added to achieve a thicker texture, but this is optional depending on preference
. Eel sauce has a rich, complex flavor that balances sweetness from the sugar and mirin with the salty umami of soy sauce. It is versatile and can be used beyond eel dishes - as a dipping sauce, marinade, or glaze for fish, chicken, vegetables, rice, and even pizza
. In summary, eel sauce is a sweet, salty, and sticky Japanese sauce made primarily from soy sauce, mirin, and sugar, used to enhance the flavor of grilled eel and many other dishes, but it contains no eel itself
