Ikura
(いくら, イクラ, Salmon Eggs, Salmon Roe)
Ikura (also known as salmon roe) are round, almost transparent salmon eggs, an unusual ingredient which is especially popular in Japan. After they have been removed from the sack, creating individual plump orbs, the eggs undergo the curing process which usually includes salt or brine.
During the Taisho period in Japan, which started in 1912, the Russians introduced the tradition of curing salmon roe to the Japanese. However, the Japanese adjusted the recipe to their tastes and started using fragrant soy sauces, sake, and rice wine for curing, giving the roe a deeper and distinctively Japanese flavor.
The strong and flavorful Japanese curing brine managed to remove the unpleasant smell from the roe, and at the same time preserved it for a longer period. The tradition of eating salmon roe has not been popularized as soon as it was introduced - it was only in the 1980s that it started to become a staple ingredient in sushi restaurants around Tokyo. Read more
Today, it is still an important sushi component, but the most common dish which incorporates ikura is ikuradon, a bowl of freshly steamed fluffy rice topped with a spoonful of this flavorful ingredient. It is also often served with traditional Japanese dishes such as grated daikon or various noodle dishes.
Although it is often replaced with cheaper and more available versions, ikura is regarded as a highly specific variety in which the combination of flavors creates a truly spectacular eating experience.
Part of
Ikura chawanmushi
Ikura chawanmushi is a traditional egg-based dish. Chawanmushi is a soft egg custard that's steamed until the texture becomes silky smooth. The eggs are often flavored ... Read more
Ikuradon
Ikuradon is a simple Japanese dish which consists of plain rice topped with ikura - the plump salmon roe. Incredibly popular in Japan, ikura is incorporated ... Read more
Ikura Sushi
Ikura sushi is a common name for a type of gunkanmaki topped with ikura—plump orbs of salmon roe. Ikura is usually marinated in soy sauce, and the ... Read more
Oshizushi
Oshizushi is the name of a unique sushi variety, distinguished by its signature rectangular shape. Also known as pressed or box sushi, it is made ... Read more
Pairing tips
Champagne
Popularly known as the gold standard of sparkling wine, true Champagne only comes from the actual Champagne region in France. It is produced using the so-called ... Read more
