Kabayaki Lele

Instructions

1. Before You Start: Gather all the ingredients. For the steamed rice, please note that 1½ cups (300 g, 2 rice cooker cups) of uncooked Japanese short-grain rice yields 4⅓ cups (660 g) of cooked rice, enough for 2 donburi servings (3⅓ cups, 500 g). See how to cook short-grain rice with a rice cooker, pot on the stove, Instant Pot, or donabe.
2. Cut 2 basa fillets (catfish fillets) in half. Season both sides of the catfish fillets with ⅛ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt and ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper.
3. Coat the fillets with 1½ Tbsp all-purpose flour (plain flour). Gently shake off the excess flour.
4. Heat 1½ Tbsp neutral oil (if you like a crispier texture, use 2 to 2½ Tbsp oil) in the frying pan over medium heat. Cook both sides of the fillet until golden brown, about 3–4 minutes each side.
5. Whisk 2 Tbsp sake, 2 Tbsp mirin, 3 Tbsp soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp sugar together in a small bowl. Pour the sauce over the fish in the pan. Using a spoon, scoop some sauce and pour it over the fish several times. Cook a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
6. Thinly slice 2 green onions/scallions and sprinkle over the fish. Turn off the heat. Divide 2 servings cooked Japanese short-grain rice into individual large donburi bowls or plates. Serve the fish over the rice. Drizzle the sauce over the fish. Sprinkle with 1 tsp toasted white sesame seeds and Japanese sansho pepper, if you'd like.