Fresh Chum Salmon Caviar
- 4 cups canning or pickling salt
- 1 gallon cold water
- 2 skeins (egg sacks) fresh chum salmon eggs (Eggs of other salmon species may be substituted, but curing time will be different as noted below)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
- In a large glass or stainless steel container, mix salt into water, stirring thoroughly until dissolved.
- With wire-mesh deep frying basket or other 1/4-inch metal screen, gently separate eggs from egg sack over bowl, by rubbing sack along screen.
- Take care not to scrape membrane from the egg sack, even if it means leaving some eggs behind.
- Pour brine mixture over eggs and allow to soak 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- (Soaking times for other salmon species: Sockeye or Red: 6 minutes; Pink or Humpy: 8 minutes; Coho or Silver: 10 minutes; King or Chinook: 14 minutes).
- While eggs soak, use tweezers to remove bits of membrane and broken eggshells.
- When soaking is complete, pour eggs into colander to drain.
- Rinse eggs quickly with cold water and drain for a few minutes.
- Cover colander with plastic wrap, place over bowl, allowing it to continue draining in refrigerator.
- After 8 to 12 hours, transfer the now-sticky eggs into glass bowl.
- Gently fold in just enough olive oil to make the individual eggs shiny and slick.
- Serving Suggestions: Salmon or ?red?
- caviar prepared this way is much less salty than the commercial variety, allowing the sweet flavor of the fresh roe to emerge.
- Because of the lower salt levels however, it should be refrigerated and consumed within 3 to 4 days.
- Its mild flavor lends itself to serving with cream cheese and crackers.
- A traditional favorite is salmon caviar atop celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese.
- Salmon caviar is delightful when added to salads with creamy herb or ranch-style dressing.
- This mild version of salmon caviar will be a welcome alternative to the more strongly flavored ?ikura?
- salmon eggs used in Japanese sushi or sashimi.
canning, gallon cold water, skeins, olive oil
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/fresh-chum-salmon-caviar-recipe.html (may not work)