Seafood
Salmon roe
イクラ いくら ikura
Also known asikura
At its best in Sep, Oct, Nov
When it is at its best
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
In seasonAvailable
How to cook
Marinated in soy sauce
The classic. Marinated in sake and soy sauce.
Ikura-don (salmon roe over rice)
Piled generously over rice.
Salt-cured
Cured in salt alone, letting the flavour stand out.
Oyako-don (salmon and salmon roe over rice)
Salmon and salmon roe served together.
How to choose
Evenly sized eggs that are taut and glossy. Avoid broken ones.
Storage
Soy-marinated roe keeps three to four days refrigerated. Portion and freeze for longer.
Main areas
Good to know
Loose eggs are ikura; the whole egg sac is sujiko. The word comes from Russian for fish roe.
