Although all female fish lay eggs, only sturgeon eggs are considered caviar. Other forms of fish eggs like salmon, trout, and flying fish are “roe” and are a popular and affordable alternative to caviar.
What is salmon caviar?
Note: For the sake of language, know that “caviar” is defined specifically as sturgeon roe. When using salmon roe to make caviar, you must call the dish “salmon caviar”. This distinction will be helpful when you are asking for what you need at the fish market!
When using salmon roe to make caviar, you must call the dish “salmon caviar”. This distinction will be helpful when you are asking for what you need at the fish market!
Do salmon lay eggs?
Female salmon release orange eggs. She may lay two to ten thousand eggs. Each of these is about the size of a small pea. Salmon eggs are rich in yolk – the material used as the food for the developing fish.
Female salmon lay eggs in riverbed depressions that they create using their tails; the male comes along behind her and fertilizes the eggs. After fertilization, the female covers the depression.
Do salmon lay eggs more than once a year?
Some salmon lay eggs only once and other species spawn many times. In the fall, mature salmon change color, and return from the ocean to the spawning beds from where they were hatched.
This begs the question “How do salmon know where to spawn?”
But between September and November every year, a salmon’s instinct to spawn (that means lay eggs) kicks in. This instinct causes them to swim all the back to the river they were born — known as a “spawning ground” — to lay their eggs. How do they know where to go ?
What does salmon roe eggs taste like?
These eggs are firm and glistening, orange-gold with a fresh, juicy and crunchy flavor. Great paired with classics like crème fraiche or cream cheese, or used as a fresh finish to dishes. Browse our selection of salmon roe caviar for sale below.