If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some fresh salmon roe you’ll want to put this delicious and versatile ingredient to good use. Salmon roe sometimes called salmon caviar, refers to the egg sacks harvested from female salmon. These bright orange beads burst with a salty, ocean-like flavor when eaten.
While salmon roe is often enjoyed simply spread on crackers, its uses go far beyond this simple application. With its unique texture and powerful umami taste, salmon roe can be used to elevate everything from appetizers to main courses. Read on for some creative ways to make the most of salmon roe.
Simple Starters
A great way to enjoy salmon roe is on top of crostini or canapés. Toast small slices of baguette, bruschetta, or crackers. Top with a schmear of cream cheese, crème fraîche, or softened butter. Add a spoonful of salmon roe at the end, and if you want, garnish with fresh chives or dill. The creaminess pairs perfectly with the pops of salty roe.
For an easy caviar-style presentation, serve the salmon roe in a small glass jar nestled in a bowl of ice Provide plain crackers or bread sticks for scooping up the eggs Add a slice of lemon to refresh the palate between bites.
Elegant Entrees
While you may think of caviar as just an appetizer salmon roe also shines when incorporated into main dishes. For an elegant presentation use it to top composed seafood entrees. A few roe pearls make for an upscale accent to grilled, roasted, or seared salmon fillets. Spoon them over simply prepared white fish like halibut or cod as well.
Salmon roe can also be mixed directly into seafood preparations. Swirl some into risottos or rice pilafs for added richness and a burst of salty flavor. Fold gently into scrambled eggs or omelets to create an indulgent brunch dish. The possibilities are endless when you get creative with how to use this special ingredient!
Pasta Perfection
Pasta and salmon roe are natural partners. It’s great how the salty, briny pearls go with rich, creamy pasta sauces. For a shortcut weeknight dinner, top spaghetti or linguine with prepared pesto sauce. Add a big spoonful of salmon roe and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to finish.
For a more involved pasta dish, make a vodka sauce by sautéing onion and garlic, adding vodka to deglaze the pan, and mixing in tomato sauce and cream. Gently fold in salmon roe just before tossing the sauce with cooked pasta. Shower with parsley and Parmesan for a restaurant-worthy meal.
Starring in Sushi
Salmon roe is right at home when used to make sushi. While fish roe can be pricey when dining out, making homemade sushi is an affordable way to get your fill of salmon caviar.
Top traditional rice rolls with raw salmon, avocado, cucumber, and carrot ribbons. Or, go fully cooked by using tempura fried shrimp or other proteins. Top your custom sushi rolls with a spoonful of ikura (salmon roe) for a satisfying pop of brine.
For Temaki hand rolls, spread seasoned sushi rice on sheets of nori. Layer on smoked salmon, cream cheese, and salmon roe before tightly rolling into a cone. The salmon roe elevates these handheld bites.
Elevating Eggs
Looking to take your breakfast from boring to gourmet? Topping eggs with salmon roe is an easy route to elegance. For steakhouse-style eggs, top crab cakes, smoked salmon or steak with poached or fried eggs. Finish with a dollop of crème fraîche and salmon roe for an indulgent twist.
Salmon caviar also shines when stirred into scrambled egg mixtures or folded into simple omelets. Dress up your morning toast by spreading with cream cheese and topping with smoked salmon, capers, red onion and salmon roe. This makes eggs anything but ordinary.
Crowning Canapés
Passed hors d’oeuvres get a boost of flavor when topped with salmon roe. Crowd-pleasing canapés are made even better with this unique addition. Spoon salmon roe atop crostini spread with mashed avocado or herbed goat cheese.
For an elegant presentation, top cucumber rounds or Belgian endive leaves with smoked salmon, lemon zest, and a pinch of salmon caviar. Or, dress up crackers spread with roast beef, parsley pesto or olive tapenade with the fish eggs.
Versatile Addition to Salads
Don’t relegate salmon roe solely to seafood. Its salty, umami flavor can enrich all types of dishes, including green salads. For an easy protein packed lunch, scatter salmon caviar over a base of leafy greens, shredded carrots, radishes and cucumbers.
Bring salmon roe into warm composed salads by topping dishes featuring potatoes, beans, grains or pasta. The roe provides a nice contrast to the richness of the ingredients. Finish Greek salads with feta, olives, tomatoes and a sprinkle of salmon caviar.
Ready-Made Roe Recipes
While individual roe pearls are a fun and elegant garnish, you can also incorporate salmon roe into everyday recipes. Blend into dips, spreads, sauces, dressings, patties and more. Check out these delicious ideas:
- Salmon roe taramasalata spread
- Salmon roe cream cheese wontons
- Salmon roe burgers or salmon cakes
- Lox and roe bagels with all the fixings
- Salmon roe salad dressing (emulsify with oil and vinegar)
- Smoked salmon roe dip or spread
- Salmon roe deviled eggs
The options for cooking with salmon caviar are seemingly endless. With its unique taste and texture, this precious ingredient can vastly improve whatever you pair it with. I hope these ideas inspire you to get creative with salmon roe in your own kitchen.
Instructions to make this recipe
Prep your potatoes
Begin by cutting your potatoes into thin slices, your choice of size. Soak in water for up to 30 minutes to one hour. This helps get out the starches and get crispier this way when frying.
Mix your crème fraîche
Set that aside while you mix the crème fraîche with salt, pepper, and thinly chopped chives in a small to medium-sized bowl. Toss and set aside. I placed mine in a plastic bag/piping bag to pipe on the potatoes, but that’s optional!.
Fry and season potatoes
After the potatoes have been soaked, dry them well on a towel or paper towels and heat neutral oil in a deep pan. You can also bake this in the oven, or air fryer. Be careful as you fry, bake, or roast your potatoes. Once they are soft inside and crunchy on the outside, put them on a wire rack to cool.
Use salt, pepper, and a little smoked paprika to bring out the flavors in your potatoes. Put them in a bowl and mix them around.
Assemble
Put all of your potatoes in a single layer on a platter. Pipe some crème fraîche on top of each potato. Then, add some chopped chives and cracked black pepper to each potato to finish.
Crispy Potatoes Topped with Salmon Roe
I am truly in love with these crispy potatoes topped with salmon roe! The easiest salmon roe recipe. It comes together with a really quick creme fraiche, piped onto crispy potatoes and topped with roe.
This is my favorite recipe for an easy snack. It would also be great as an appetizer at a holiday party or get-together. You can also choose to serve it on potato chips instead of making potatoes.
Tasty Salmon Roe Recipe
FAQ
What is the best way to eat salmon roe?
What is salmon roe used for?
Is salmon roe safe to eat raw?
Is eating salmon roe good for you?
What to eat with salmon roe?
Pair it with cream cheese or avocado for a delectable treat. 2.4 Salad Enhancer: Add a touch of elegance to your salads by garnishing them with salmon roe. The burst of flavor will elevate your greens to a whole new level. 2.5 Pasta and Risotto: Stir salmon roe into cooked pasta or risotto just before serving.
Can I eat cured salmon roe while pregnant?
Salmon roe are the eggs of salmon and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, important for the development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus. Cured salmon roe is generally found to be low in mercury and considered safe when eaten in small amounts during pregnancy. Some doctors and health officials may still recommend avoiding fish roe during pregnancy. Fortunately, there are other ways to consume the omega-3 fats that are healthy for both mom and baby, including salmon fillets and dietary supplements. If you consume salmon roe, it should come from a trustworthy source who has cured and handled it properly.
How do you cook salmon roe at home?
Two easy methods for curing salmon roe at home. Make it Japanese-style (also called ikura!) by curing the roe in a soy sauce mixture. Or just make a simple cured roe with water and salt. Ikura (soy sauce-cured) roe over rice. We love ikura! Growing up in Hawaii, we encountered ikura often at Japanese restaurants.
How do you clean a salmon roe?
With the salmon roe all remove and in the bowl, rinse and drain under gentle and cool running water several times to clean. Then pour the salmon roe in a large strainer and rinse several more times to get it extra clean. Make sure you get off all the membrane bits clinging to the roe.