The main difference between roe and caviar is the process involved in making caviar. Roe refers to the ripe eggs of any fish, while caviar refers to cured and salted Sturgeon roe. Another difference between regular roe and caviar is the price point; roe from other fishes is affordable, while caviar is highly costly.
In the culinary world, two words often used interchangeably are roe and caviar. Although both terms refer to fish eggs, they are not entirely the same thing. In this article, you will learn about the differences and similarities between roe and caviar, including their appearance, taste, shelf life, texture, and uses.
Table of Contents
Roe vs. Caviar: What's The Difference?
Roe is a generic word to describe eggs from the ovaries of any variety of female fish or shellfish. Caviar is a type of roe that comes from sturgeon or other large fish. The scarcity of this fish makes it a costly delicacy that few get the privilege to eat.
It is usually quite easy to tell caviar and roe apart. Caviar appears black, grey or silver. Roe will often have an orange shade or some other bright color. Roe from salmon is called red caviar. They are large, orange balls that you regularly see on the sushi menu.
Tobiko is another very common roe. They are tiny, salty beads, often found as a garnish on sushi that appeals to fussy eaters. They come from flying fish with a texture that is almost crunchy as you bite into them. Tobiko can be colored a range of shades, including black (squid ink), red (beets), yellow (yuzu), and green wasabi).
On the supermarket shelf, there are plenty of low-cost jars of roe. These are harvested from common, sustainable fish varieties such as paddlefish, hackleback, capelin, or lumpfish. By law, the source of the eggs must be labeled on the jar.
Other types of roe popular in restaurants are bottarga, tuna, or mullet roe that gets dried and salt-cured. Their texture is firmer and can be shaved onto dishes.
- Tarama is taken from cod or carp; these are cured and smoked to add flavor and prolong their life.
- Roe from other seafood such as lobster or crab is sought after in restaurants. These eggs get transformed into buttery, rich sauces, or soups.
- The texture of sea urchin roe (uni) is unique, as there isn't a popping texture when bitten into. Instead, it offers a silky, custard-like texture.
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Comparing the taste
Roe can vary in flavor depending on what seafood it comes from. The taste ranges from sweet through to briny with a buttery, fishy aftertaste. Although caviar has a similar fishy flavor, its texture is what people love. Like an everlasting gobstopper, those consuming caviar experience a journey: the initial texture is firm until the egg's exterior melts and releases a soft, butter-like inside. The best caviar that is fresh will not have a salty taste; instead, it will be quite mild.
Comparison Table
Roe | Caviar | |
---|---|---|
Description | Eggs from the ovaries of any variety of female fish or shellfish. | A type of roe which comes from Sturgeon or other large fish. |
Price | High. | Low. |
Color | Often orange. | Often black, silver or grey. |
Shelf life once opened | Relatively short, perishable. | Longer life as the eggs are cured and salted. |
Texture | Ranges from soft to popping. | Firmer texture which melts into a butter-like consistency. |
Taste | Ranges from sweet to briny, with a buttery, fishy aftertaste. | Fresher means less salty. Ranges from sweet to briny, with a buttery, fishy aftertaste. |
Types of caviar
Beluga
Beluga sturgeon is rare on the menus in the United States due to overfishing and stock control policies. It is considered one of the best, if not, the best type of caviar on the market. Scarcity makes it highly desirable and very expensive. Beluga caviar is harvested exclusively in the Caspian Sea, a vast lake that borders a range of countries, including Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
Osetra
Osetra caviar is another overfished seafood that offers a delicious briny, fresh flavor with a nutty undertone. It's tender texture, mid-large sized balls, and golden color make it another popular option.
Sevruga
Sevruga caviar provides a relatively strong and salty, yet smooth flavor. The pearly grey eggs are smaller in size than the beluga and osetra, are also more affordable. Sevruga can easily be identified as it comes in a red tin.
Caviar's history
Caviar has a rich history in the culinary world with Aristotle documenting this foodstuff in the 4th Century. It was heralded and, on its arrival. Trumpets would sound to announce its arrival. Since that time, the Russian Tsars raised its status to delicacy status. In the early 1900s, exiled royalty and aristocrats who fled the revolution took with them a love for quality caviar. Their departure created a trend through Europe with everyone "wanting in" on the caviar action.
How to serve roe and caviar
At parties, caviar is often served on ice so that it can be eaten cold. The tin of eggs is simply opened and placed in a bowl of ice, which is then carried around on a tray. Although they may look better in an elaborate container, chefs often keep them in the tin to avoid damaging them.
The ideal utensil for eating quality caviar is a spoon made from mother-of-pearl or bone. Metals such as silver can taint the flavor of the roe and should be avoided.
Blinis
Whether you decide to splash out on exclusive caviar or opt for the more economical products, there a range of popular uses for your fish eggs. Russians love to eat caviar on buttered blinis, which are a form of small, thin pancake. Another popular way to eat fish eggs is straight from a spoon with a chaser of vodka or champagne.
Salad
Add cucumbers, beetroot, celery, and kohlrabi to a bowl, then toss with a vinaigrette. Finally, sprinkle with red caviar. The refreshing sweetness of the beets and cucumber balance the salty roe to make a tasty meal.
Eggs
Make a batch of deviled eggs and garnish with caviar. Once again, the saltiness of the egg balances the sweetness of the mayonnaise. The perfect hors d'oeuvre, consumed with a glass of French champagne.
International terminology
In Canada and the United States, a product labeled "caviar" must have come from sturgeon roe. Any other type of eggs must be labeled appropriately with trout roe, carp roe etc. In Europe, any eggs from a fish other than sturgeon must use the term "caviar substitute."
Did you know?
National Caviar Day is on July 18 in the United States.
Why Is Caviar Expensive?
Caviar is expensive because the sturgeon species are threatened due to factors such as pollution and overfishing. Also, female sturgeon are slow-maturing fish and take several years to produce eggs.
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Final Words
Roe is a generic term used for all types of eggs that come from seafood. This term includes roe from fish, lobsters, shellfish, and any other marine creatures. Caviar is a type of roe that only comes from the sturgeon family. It is a prized ingredient in many American kitchens and around the world. Sold for its lovely firm texture and buttery mouthfeel, we are confident you'll agree this food is a delicacy for a good reason.
The price for good caviar ranges a lot, but you will be looking at roughly $4,000/lb. It's not the type of food most people buy for everyday eating. But if you ever get the chance to try it, we recommend taking the plunge and eating some. There is no other ingredient in the world that tastes like it.
Have you tried eating caviar? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.
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