Pop Japan

Ikura is the Japanese version of the salmon caviar delicacy. They are made from salmon roe or eggs and are cured and salted to remove the fish stench. They are those tiny red circle you usually see on top of a sushi or on top of a bowl of rice, as in the photo. Salmon eggs are actually more commonly used as fishing baits but in Japan, they are a whole new unique delicacy. Ikura should not be confused with sujiko, Both are salmon eggs but sujiko are still on the fish sack when prepared. Sujiko also has a darker color, almost red, compared to the brighter and more orange color of the ikura.

Photo by Flickr.com user "Blue Lotus." Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en)

Tags: food, ikura, sujiko, salmon caviar, salmon roe, salmon eggs, japan, sushi, ikura rice bowl, fishing bait