Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🧬

Roe

life science Maturity 5-7

Roe are tiny fish eggs.

Ikura 001.jpg
Ikura 001.jpg
They come from fish and shrimp. People eat them in many ways. Some people fry them in a pan. Others eat them cold. They help our bodies stay strong.
Ikura don.jpg
Ikura don.jpg
Do you like fish?

42 words

Roe are tiny eggs from fish.

Ikura 001.jpg
Ikura 001.jpg
They also come from shrimp and sea urchins. Some people eat them raw. Others cook them in a pan.
Ikura don.jpg
Ikura don.jpg
You can eat them fried or in a curry. Many people like them on rice. These eggs have good things for our bodies. They help us stay healthy. People all over the world enjoy eating roe.

66 words

Roe are the eggs of many sea animals.

Ikura 001.jpg
Ikura 001.jpg
You can find them in fish, shrimp, and squid. They also come from sea urchins. Some people call sturgeon eggs caviar.
Carp roe caviar.png
Carp roe caviar.png
This is a special kind of raw roe.

Roe is very healthy to eat. It has omega-3 fatty acids. These are good fats for your body. It also has vitamin B12.

People around the world eat roe in many ways. In Japan, people eat salmon roe called ikura.

Ikura don.jpg
Ikura don.jpg
They often put it on rice. In many places, people cook the eggs. They might fry them in a pan. Some people make a spicy curry with them. In Canada, people have gathered herring roe for a long time. They find eggs laid on seaweed. In the United States, people eat roe from salmon and shad. Some people even fry it with bacon. In Chile, sea urchin roe is a popular food. It is called erizo de mar. People eat it in many different dishes.

169 words

Roe is the name for the ripe egg masses found inside the bodies of fish and other marine animals.

Ikura 001.jpg
Ikura 001.jpg
You can find roe in many different creatures like shrimp, scallops, sea urchins, and squid. Some people call the roe from a sturgeon "caviar," which is a very famous delicacy.
Carp roe caviar.png
Carp roe caviar.png
While many people think of it as a luxury, it is actually a common food in many places. It is a great source of nutrients for the body. All fish roe contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats. Roe also contains a significant amount of vitamin B12.
Sea urchin eggs.jpg
Sea urchin eggs.jpg

There are many ways that people prepare and eat roe around the world. Some people enjoy it as a raw ingredient for fancy dishes like caviar. Others prefer to cook it in many different ways. In the Dominican Republic, people often eat dried and smoked herring roe after it is cooked.

Ikura don.jpg
Ikura don.jpg
In Peru, it is common to find roe that is sauteed, breaded, or pan-fried. Some people even wrap roe in wet banana leaves and cook it over charcoal embers. In Indonesia, a dish called pepes telur ikan uses spiced roe wrapped in a leaf. These different methods change the taste and texture of the eggs.

History shows that many cultures have used roe for a very long time. In Canada, the Indigenous people of the Pacific coast have a long-standing practice of collecting herring roe.

Securing salmon eggs at unidentified hatchery, Alaska, nd (COBB 40).jpeg
Securing salmon eggs at unidentified hatchery, Alaska, nd (COBB 40).jpeg
They often harvest "spawn-on-kelp," which are eggs laid on seaweed or hemlock branches. In the United States, the Tlingit people of the Sitka Sound also traditionally collected and ate herring roe. Even in the early 20th century, people were working in Alaska to harvest and fertilize salmon eggs at hatcheries. This shows how important these eggs have been to people for many generations.

Different countries have their own special names and types of roe. In Japan, salmon roe is called ikura, and it often appears as large, reddish-orange spheres.

ShrimpRoeNoodle uncooked.jpg
ShrimpRoeNoodle uncooked.jpg
They also eat flying fish roe called tobiko, which is very crunchy. In Israel, roe is often called "ikra." People there might eat "white ikra" made from carp or "red ikra" made from mullet. In Chile, sea urchin roe is a traditional food known as "erizo de mar." In Malaysia, Toli Shad fish roe is a popular treat that can be quite expensive in some states.

Eating roe can feel like a trip around the world through your food. You might see salmon roe served on top of sushi in a Japanese restaurant.

Prawns Skagen with cold-smoked salmon roe on bread.jpg
Prawns Skagen with cold-smoked salmon roe on bread.jpg
Or you might find it served as a spicy curry in South Asia. In parts of India and Bangladesh, roe can be a delicious stuffing for vegetables or a thick curry. Even in Sweden, you can find salmon roe used as a topping for toast. Whether it is served in a fancy restaurant or by a street vendor, roe is a part of many different lives.

511 words

Roe refers to the fully ripe internal egg masses found in the ovaries of fish. It also describes the released external egg masses of certain marine animals.

Ikura 001.jpg
Ikura 001.jpg
This includes creatures such as shrimp, scallops, sea urchins, and squid. Roe serves as a versatile seafood ingredient across the globe. It can be used as a cooked component in many meals. It is also used as a raw ingredient for expensive delicacies. One of the most famous examples is caviar, which is made from the roe of a sturgeon.
Carp roe caviar.png
Carp roe caviar.png

Nutritionally, roe is a very dense source of essential nutrients. All fish roe contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats. Certain marine animals provide even higher concentrations of these fats. For example, the roe of lumpsucker, hake, mullet, salmon, Atlantic bonito, mackerel, squid, and cuttlefish are especially rich in omega-3s. Additionally, fish roe contains a significant amount of vitamin B12.

Sea urchin eggs.jpg
Sea urchin eggs.jpg
These nutrients make roe a valuable part of many diets.

There are different types of roe and related biological products. Scientists and chefs distinguish between egg masses and other substances. The term "soft roe" or "white roe" actually refers to fish milt, which is not fish eggs. Caviar is a specific term used for sturgeon eggs. In Israel, the term "ikra" is used for general roe. This includes "white ikra" from carp or herring, and "red ikra" from mullet or salmon.

Ikura don.jpg
Ikura don.jpg
Different species produce distinct textures and flavors.

Many cultures have long histories of harvesting roe using specific methods. In Canada, the Indigenous people of the Northern and Middle Pacific coast have a long-standing practice of collecting herring roe. They often harvest "spawn-on-kelp," which are eggs laid on seaweed or submerged hemlock branches.

Securing salmon eggs at unidentified hatchery, Alaska, nd (COBB 40).jpeg
Securing salmon eggs at unidentified hatchery, Alaska, nd (COBB 40).jpeg
In the United States, the Tlingit people of the Sitka Sound also traditionally collected herring roe. Early 20th-century records show men in Alaska harvesting and fertilizing salmon eggs at hatcheries. These traditions show how deeply roe is integrated into human history.

Preparation methods vary significantly depending on the region and the species. In the Dominican Republic, people often eat dried and smoked herring roe after cooking it. In Peru, roe from the Cojinova fish is often sautéed, breaded, or pan-fried. This is called Huevera Frita, though it is considered a chance product rather than a delicacy. In Indonesia, a dish called pepes telur ikan uses spiced roe wrapped in a banana leaf.

ShrimpRoeNoodle uncooked.jpg
ShrimpRoeNoodle uncooked.jpg
In South Asia, roe is often prepared as a thick curry or deep-fried with chili paste.

Japan has a highly specialized culinary relationship with various types of roe. They use many varieties in raw sushi, such as Ebiko from shrimp and Ikura from salmon.

Ikura 001.jpg
Ikura 001.jpg
They also consume Sujiko, which are whole salmon roe sacs that are darker and sweeter. Other types include Masago from capelin and the crunchy, reddish-orange Tobiko from flying fish. Sea urchin roe, known as Uni, is also a common sushi ingredient.
Sea urchin eggs.jpg
Sea urchin eggs.jpg
These specific preparations allow for a wide range of textures.

Roe connects many different biological and cultural systems. It is a bridge between marine biology and global trade. For instance, Chile exports sea urchins to Japan to meet high demand. In the United States, herring roe from Alaska is mostly shipped to Japan. In the Great Lakes, cisco roe is harvested for overseas markets. Even in Sweden, salmon roe is used as a topping for toast Skagen.

Prawns Skagen with cold-smoked salmon roe on bread.jpg
Prawns Skagen with cold-smoked salmon roe on bread.jpg
This shows how a single biological product can support global economies.

601 words
🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:Caviar spoons.jpg
Caviar spoons.jpg
File:Prawns Skagen with cold-smoked salmon roe on bread.jpg
Prawns Skagen with cold-smoked salmon roe...
File:Securing salmon eggs at unidentified hatchery, Alaska, nd (COBB 40).jpeg
Securing salmon eggs at unidentified...
File:মাছের ডিম দিয়ে উচ্ছে ভাজি.jpg
মাছের ডিম দিয়ে উচ্ছে ভাজি.jpg
File:Ikura 001.jpg
Ikura 001.jpg
File:Ikura don.jpg
Ikura don.jpg
File:ShrimpRoeNoodle uncooked.jpg
ShrimpRoeNoodle uncooked.jpg
File:Sea urchin eggs.jpg
Sea urchin eggs.jpg
File:Taramosalata01.jpg
Taramosalata01.jpg
File:Carp roe caviar.png
Carp roe caviar.png
File:Roe Sallad.jpg
Roe Sallad.jpg
File:Бутерброд с икрой минтая 2.jpg
Бутерброд с икрой минтая 2.jpg

+ 1 more

Up Next
🧬
Beluga (sturgeon)
Life Science
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.