Shad roe (did you even know there was such a thing?)
I tried shad roe for the first time at least 35 or more years ago. It was in a seafood restaurant in Hoboken, NJ. We took a ferry from Manhattan to get there. In retrospect I think that the reason I didn't like it (I actually hated it, and I eat everything) is that it was cooked too much. Shad roe is very seasonal (the season is over for this year). It comes, as you see above, as a two-lobed entity. If you separate the lobes before cooking you want to be very careful. You do not want the billions of little eggs spilling out of the roe sacs when you cook it.
My favorite method is to cook 2 strips of bacon and then set it aside. I then season the roe with salt and pepper and fry it in the bacon fat just until medium rare. It's hard to tell when you've achieved that. It took me a few tries to become confident in my technique.
What does it taste like? There's a denseness to its texture. The flavor is not fishy in the least. Rather, it has a very faint hint of liver about it. I am very pleased that after decades of my existence this delicacy came back into my life.
I tried shad roe for the first time at least 35 or more years ago. It was in a seafood restaurant in Hoboken, NJ. We took a ferry from Manhattan to get there. In retrospect I think that the reason I didn't like it (I actually hated it, and I eat everything) is that it was cooked too much. Shad roe is very seasonal (the season is over for this year). It comes, as you see above, as a two-lobed entity. If you separate the lobes before cooking you want to be very careful. You do not want the billions of little eggs spilling out of the roe sacs when you cook it.
My favorite method is to cook 2 strips of bacon and then set it aside. I then season the roe with salt and pepper and fry it in the bacon fat just until medium rare. It's hard to tell when you've achieved that. It took me a few tries to become confident in my technique.
What does it taste like? There's a denseness to its texture. The flavor is not fishy in the least. Rather, it has a very faint hint of liver about it. I am very pleased that after decades of my existence this delicacy came back into my life.
Ok, I have to say, it doesn't look good, but the way you describe it makes me want to try it :) That's a good sign!!
ReplyDeleteNever ever had roe, shad or otherwise. Its not the prettiest of things LOL! However if you add bacon I might be willing to try it :) Good for you for retrying and enjoying it later in life :) Isn't it amazing how our tastes change?
ReplyDeleteI've heard of it but have never had it and chances are slim and none of it ever being available in the stores here. Heck, I can't even find red snapper, grouper, and on and on. I'm glad it made you happy though!
ReplyDeleteNever had shad roe... never even heard such thing, yes. I'll give everything a go.
ReplyDeleteNever had it...but I'd give it a try.
ReplyDeleteSo it's like fish AND liver combined?
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I would not be able to eat that. I can't eat caviar or anything like that.