Salmon Caviar (Ikura)
Vital Choice

Red caviar is so beautiful! It looks like small red pearls that you can almost see through and there is the tiniest pop to them in your mouth. If you have never experienced caviar, red caviar is a lovely way to start. From wild salmon (not farmed!) caught in the Pacific Northwest, this caviar does not have the high price tag that people often associate with Russian caviar.

What does caviar taste like? It reminds you of the ocean with a slightly salty brine quality, and at first bite, you may think “Fish!” But when mixed with other foods that compliment caviar beautifully, you will begin to understand what all the fuss is about.

This caviar comes in a lidded, 6-ounce container that arrives frozen. Keep your caviar frozen until the day before you plan to use it: put it in the coldest part of your refrigerator and let it slowly thaw for 18-24 hours. Caviar is delicate so handle it lightly and do not use a metal spoon to serve it with. Find a small wooden spoon, or even a plastic spoon so that the taste of metal is not transferred to the delicate eggs.

Now, for the goodies! Caviar goes wonderfully with sour cream, cream cheese, finely diced sweet onion, and sieved hard-boiled egg yolk, capers and lemon juice. Whether its twice baked potatoes stuffed with a cream cheese and sour cream mixture and topped with chives and caviar, or whether you garnish a cracker and cream cheese with it you will find many elegant and delicious ways to use it. Our suggestions are an easy Caviar Dip/Spread or a beautiful but easy to assemble Caviar Torte.

The price is right, the accompaniments are easy, and the health benefits are immense in that this is loaded with Omega-3 and is very low calorie. If you love caviar, you know all your favorite ways of treating yourself to this lovely delicacy, and if you have never tried caviar, now you have no excuses!