Kazunoko

Kazunoko is a Japanese term for salted herring roe that is typically marinated in dashi stock. This yellow roe is slightly elongated and filled with tiny round eggs that pop and release their briny flavor when eaten. In Japan, herring roe is usually first desalted and then marinated in dashi stock, which is often seasoned with soy sauce, kelp (seaweed), and bonito flakes.

The word translates as number (kazu) and child (ko), and the dish symbolizes a prosperous future and fertility. Because of this, kazunoko is one of the essential courses served during Japanese New Year festivities—collectively called Osechi-ryōri.

Herring roe can be enjoyed on its own, but it is also incorporated into sushi, and it is one of the ingredients in matsumaezuke.