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Salată de icre
Salată de icre: Danube Delta spread of salted carp or pike roe whipped with oil, lemon and onion
No Romanian buffet, Christmas table or Lent meal of the Delta is complete without a bowl of salată de icre, the pale pink spread made by whisking salted carp or pike roe with sunflower oil and lemon until it becomes light and fluffy, like a fish mayonnaise. Spread thickly on toasted bread with a ring of raw onion and a few black olives, it is salty, creamy and briny, and it vanishes in minutes. The roe is cured with salt but not cooked, so buy ready-salted roe from a good fishmonger or deli and keep it chilled; this spread is not for pregnant women, young children or anyone with a weakened immune system. The mistake to avoid is pouring the oil in quickly, which makes it split and greasy; add it a few drops at a time. Chef's tip: if it does split, whisk a teaspoon of cold water into a clean bowl and slowly whisk the split mixture back into it.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the spread
- 3 ½ oz ready-salted carp or pike roe (commercially prepared)chilled
- ¾ cup sunflower oilchilled
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 small onionvery finely grated
- 1 tbsp cold water
To serve
- 1 red onion (optional)sliced into rings
- 2 ⅛ oz black olives (optional)
- 6 slices toasted bread or gluten-free crackers (optional)
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What you'll need
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put the cold 3 ½ oz ready-salted carp or pike roe (commercially prepared) in a bowl with the 1 tbsp cold water and whisk with a wooden spoon or a hand mixer on low for 2 minutes, until smooth and paler.
2 minStep 2: Add the ¾ cup sunflower oil a few drops at a time, whisking constantly, for about 10 minutes. After the first quarter has gone in and the mixture thickens, you can add it in a thin stream.
10 minStep 3: Whisk in the 2 tbsp lemon juice a teaspoon at a time between additions of oil; the spread will lighten in colour and become fluffy, like a soft mousse.
5 minStep 4: Squeeze the juice from the grated 1 small onion and fold it in. Taste; it should be salty and lemony, so add no extra salt.
2 minStep 5: Cover and chill for at least 10 minutes. Serve cold with 1 red onion, 2 ⅛ oz black olives and 6 slices toasted bread or gluten-free crackers, keep in the fridge and eat within 2 days.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fat
- 32 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does salată de icre take?
- About 30 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of small onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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