Can You Have Eel Sauce While Pregnant? Let’s Find
Even while being pregnant is a beautiful time for many women, there are many ups and downs, particularly when it comes to eating. One of the concerns pregnant women ask is, “Can I eat eel sauce while pregnant?”. As they should be informed of the meals to consume and the foods to avoid during pregnancy. If you have the same query, the post below has the answer.
What is Eel Sauce?
In Japanese, eel sauce is also known as unagi no tare, nitsume sauce, and kabayaki sauce. It is a sweet and salty sauce that tastes fantastic drizzled over traditional sushi and goes great over grilled fish or poultry.
Japanese grilled eel and eel rolls typically use it. For a fast snack, you can also pour this sauce over freshly cooked noodles. To make the flavor fuller and more genuine, add a half cup of dashi.
Can You Eat Eel Sauce While Pregnant?
There is some misunderstanding about eel sauce going around (sometimes called unagi sauce). Instead of being a sauce made of eel, eel sauce is a condiment meant to be used with eel.
When the eel is broiled or grilled, eel sauce is frequently used to spread over or glaze any of the popular eel meals. Although the components might vary, they often include soy sauce, mirin (a Japanese wine), sake, and sugar. Eels are not present in it.
It’s safe for pregnant women to eat eel sauce. The modest quantity of alcohol present in eel sauce is often insufficient to cause pregnancy-related problems. You can use less if you’re producing your own eel sauce. If you want to learn more about this, you might jump to the section on how to make eel sauce at home in this article.
Are Sauces Safe To Consume When Pregnant?
Foods like store-bought sauces or dressings, freshly baked cupcakes or cookies, and foods that employ pasteurized eggs or are thoroughly cooked are safe to consume.
Is Eel Sauce Good For You?
As an illustration, only one tablespoon of a reduced-sodium variant might have 575 mg of sodium in it, which is 25% of the advised maximum.
Additionally, 335 mg of salt, 7 grams of sugar, and 32 calories are included in one tablespoon of eel sauce. Even spicy mayo isn’t particularly healthy.
How to make Eel Sauce at Home?
To prepare this sauce, just 3 ingredients are required. You probably already have everything on hand if you’ve cooked any Japanese dishes before. What you’ll need is as follows:
- Soy sauce: Use soy sauce of high quality, it makes all the difference. We prefer the classic Kikkoman brand, which also has a gluten-free variety.
- Sugar: Brown sugar can be used in place of white sugar.
- Mirin: A sweeter-than-average cooking alcohol that is used in many Japanese sauces and marinades. If you wish to avoid, mirin, use dry sherry as it will work the same way. Try rice vinegar and add a teaspoon of sugar for a non-alcohol alternative.
You simply need to follow a straightforward 2-step process to prepare this sauce, and it is quite tasty!
- All the ingredients should first be placed in a small pot. Put it on a medium heat setting and simmer it. Turn down the heat and simmer for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- Now turn off the heat and allow the saucepan cool to room temperature. Stir everything up and serve right away or save it for later.
Advice For Creating The Finest Recipe
The sauce has to boil for a long time to greatly decrease; else, it won’t be as thick or sticky.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch to the sauce if you would like it to be thicker. If you don’t whisk it well into the batter, clumps will appear.
Feel free to include herbs or spices like minced garlic, red pepper flakes, or ginger.
Storing Information
To keep for up to a week, leftovers can be kept covered in the refrigerator. Before using it, be sure to thoroughly stir it because there could be some separation.
If you want to freeze the sauce, put it in a glass jar and keep it there for up to two months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eel Sauce
Does eel sauce have an eel flavor?
There is absolutely no eel taste or presence in the sauce. Its addition to unagi is where its name originates.
Is unagi sauce similar to soy sauce?
No, there are two distinct tastes in soy sauce and unagi sauce. The former has a more umami-heavy and sweeter flavor.
Are eel sauce and sushi sauce the same thing?
However, there isn’t any genuine “eel” in the sauce. Eel sauce is often a rich, sweetened soy sauce with a faint smoky taste that is poured over sushi. Like ordinary soy sauce, you can also just order it as a side dish.
Can I have soy sauce when I’m expecting?
You might be wondering if eating soy is healthy for you and your developing baby now that you’re pregnant. The good news is that, at least in moderation, you can eat items that contain soy.
Can I make sushi using regular rice?
Although using authentic sushi rice is the best option, any Japanese short-grain white rice would do in a hurry. Once again, avoid attempting to utilize medium or long-grain rice, such as Jasmine or Basmati.
Is vegetarian sushi safe while pregnant?
Only sushi without raw or smoked fish is OK for consumption while expecting. Sushi with cooked fish and vegetarian or vegan choices are included in this types of sushi.
A sushi roll contains how much mercury?
Mercury content in tuna rolls is 0.46 0.09 ppm on average. The average mercury content in other kinds of sushi is less than 0.06 ppm.
Final Thoughts
So, can pregnant women eat eel sauce? The answer to the question is yes, you may eat this delicious sauce whenever you want, but you should watch how much you eat when pregnant. Since overeating at this vulnerable time can be dangerous for both you and your unborn child.
Additionally, if you plan to eat eel sauce with an eel dish while pregnant, make sure you properly cook it to at least 145°F. Eating cooked fish helps reduce the risk of food poisoning and stomach infections that’s why it has not to be undercooked fish. Before introducing eel to your pregnancy diet, it is also essential to speak with your doctor.
It makes sense that pregnant women should avoid eating a large quantity of eel sauce due to its high salt content and low level of alcohol. However, as long as this sauce is used in moderation during pregnancy, it is safe.
Reference:
https://www.myrecipes.com/course/sauce-recipes/what-is-eel-sauce