How to Eat Eel

Eel is a dish not regularly found in Western cuisine, but eel is quite popular in many cultures because of its numerous health benefits. Eel is vitamin rich and you can prepare it in a variety of different ways.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Filleting the Eel, Kansai-style

1. Slit the eel at the belly if you wish to fillet the eel in the fashion of the Kansai region.

2. Keep the meat along the back connected.

3. Put the fillets on to metal skewers.

4. Dip in mirin and soy glaze.

5. Grill until cooked to your satisfaction.

Filleting the Eel, Kanto-style

6. Cut the eel at the back. Leave the belly connected to the bone. This is how people traditionally prepare eel in the Kanto plains area.

7. Skewer the eel meat with bamboo skewers.

8. Steam, then lightly grill the eel.

9. Glaze the eel and then grill it again.

Tips & Warnings

• Eel is believed by the Japanese to be a culinary cure for lethargy. Many believe it helps people regain stamina sapped by heat or other causes.
• Eating eel has been shown in certain studies to significantly reduce the chances of the development of type 2 diabetes among certain groups, most notably the Maori tribe of New Zealand.
• Fillets of glaze-grilled eel can be eaten as a side dish, but are more commonly served as an entrée on a bed of steamed rice.

Resources

• View a video of filleted eel being prepared.

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