I loveeee ikura (イクラ in Japanese), aka salmon roe. It is full of salty, unami and omega deliciousness. Not forgetting to mention that they look so pretty too, like little glistening gems in the sea. Making an ikura temaka (salmon roe handroll) at home is a treat I love to indulge in once in a while to pamper myself. Pair them with hot sake and I’ll be at gourmet paradise.
For this recipe, I bought the best grade of ikura at Meidi-Ya supermarket and it is still cheaper than ordering it from Japanese restaurants.
Making the handroll is really easy too: just arrange the ingredients on a temaki-size seaweed as shown above before rolling it into a cone.
And if you have leftover ingredients, make the equally easy ikura don (salmon roe on rice). Click the photo above for the recipe.
For best results, use a wooden spoon when scooping and serving the fish roe. Metal spoon and utensils may affect the taste of the roe.
Ensure the nori sheets are fresh and crisp by only opening the packet when it is needed. Do not leave the nori sheets exposed for hours. Store leftover nori tightly sealed in the freezer.