Name: Vegan Unagi Sushi Bowl
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 6 Fairy Tail Eggplants (or 1 small Eggplant); 1/3 Cup Sake; 1/3 Cup Mirin; 1/3 Cup Liquid Aminos (or Soy Sauce); 3 Tbsp Agave Nectar; 1 tsp Kelp Powder (optional); 2 Tbsp Tapioca Flour (also called Tapioca Starch); 2 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil; 1 Cup Sushi or Short Gain White Rice; 1/4 Cup Rice Vinegar; 1 Tbsp Agave Nectar; 1/8 tsp Salt; 2 Carrots (Peeled and Julienned); 2 Persian Cucumbers (or 1 small Cucumber, Julienned); 1 Avocado (Peeled and Sliced); 2 Green Onions (Sliced Thin); 1/4 of a Nori Sheet (Slivered, Garnish); 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds (Garnish)

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An easy twist for homemade sushi that transforms eggplant into Japanese unagi (freshwater eel). This vegan unagi sushi bowl explodes with umami and faux-fish flavor.

No Fuss Homemade Sushi

We are no strangers to sushi bowls. In fact, in the past we have shared a simple Vegan Sushi Bowl recipe and a Forbidden Rice Vegan Sushi Bowl. These bowls are fun, versatile, and most importantly- EASY to make.

But now is the time to take this homemade sushi meal to the next level… with faux unagi made from eggplant!

Vegan Eggplant Unagi

Unagi is the Japanese word for freshwater eel. It is often served on a bed of rice or thinly sliced on top of a sushi roll.

However, for this plant-based version, small Fairy Tale eggplants are sliced and cooked in a savory sauce to replicate the flavor and texture of real unagi. Then, it’s added to rice and other fresh vegetables to create an irresistible vegan sushi bowl.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Eggplant – Although any eggplant can be used, we recommend Fairy Tale Eggplants for their small stature. They’re the ideal size for a sushi bowl and their meaty texture is used to mimic freshwater eel for this recipe.
Sushi Rice – By adding rice vinegar, agave nectar, and salt to ordinary short-grain rice, sticky sushi rice becomes the base of this bowl.
Fresh Produce – Carrot, Cucumber, Avocado, and Green Onion add a healthy crunch to this bowl. However, you can also substitute them for your own favorite sushi ingredients.
Nori – A sheet of nori is sliced thin and sprinkled on top of the bowl to add a touch of ocean flavor.
Unagi Sauce – Using a combination of saki, mirin, soy sauce, agave nectar, and optional kelp powder, this salty sauce is used to transform eggplant into a gooey-fishy “eel” cutlet.

FAQ & Vegan Unagi Sushi Bowl Tips:

Is this sushi bowl gluten-free?
- Yes, it can be. Simply use liquid aminos instead of soy sauce.

Can the Fairy Tale eggplants be replaced with ordinary eggplant?
- Absolutely. Any type of eggplant can be used, it will just produce a larger unagi cutlet. Additionally, you may want to double the unagi sauce recipe as well to accommodate for the larger eggplant.

Tip: How to create thicker unagi sauce
- If you prefer a thicker consistency for sauce, extra tapioca flour can be used while dusting the eggplant.
Mix It Up!
- If you aren’t in the mood for chopping veggies, you can also serve the eggplant unagi over a bed of rice for a traditional Japanese unagi don (unadon) dish.

Easy Sushi at Home

No need to shell out your hard earned money for an expensive meal out. You can enjoy delicious restaurant-worthy sushi at home with this unique plant-based sushi bowl.

Finally, if you have made this unagi bowl, we would love to hear what you think! Please comment down below and be sure to rate the recipe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks so much!