Shad Roe Recipes

SHAD ROE POACHED IN BUTTER

Steps:

• Gently pull the sacs away from each other, and the membrane attaching them will come apart. Snip any pieces of membrane that do not break easily with kitchen scissors. Take care not to tear the sacs. Run them under cool water, and pat them dry.
• To know how much butter to poach the roe in, place the sacs in a straight-sided frying pan or saucepan just large enough to hold them in one layer. Add water to halfway up the sides of the sacs. Drain water off into a measuring cup. The level of water in the measuring cup is the level that the melted butter to cook the roe should reach. (In poaching pike or striped bass roe, the water should almost cover it. Both of those puff up in cooking, so they will need more butter.)
• Remove the roe from the pan, and wipe the pan dry. Place the melted butter in the pan over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling, carefully slip the roe into the pan in one layer. Return to a boil.
• Cook over medium heat for 1 minute to firm up the roe. Turn the heat to low (bubbles should be breaking the surface, but not vigorously). Cook for 2 minutes. Gently move each piece to assure that it does not stick. Continue to cook 4 minutes more (5 minutes more for the bass, 27 minutes more for the pike). Carefully flip each piece. Cook for 3 minutes, moving roe gently so that it does not stick. Continue to cook until the roe sacs have changed color and are opaque all the way through, 4 minutes for the shad, 5 minutes for the bass and 27 minutes for the pike. Move the pike occasionally to keep it from sticking.

FRIED SHAD ROE

Steps:

• Place shad roe in saucepan and cover with water to which salt and vinegar have been added.
• Simmer 20 minutes; drain and cover with cold water for five minutes.
• Drain again; sprinkle with salt and pepper, dip in flour and fry in hot deep fat (375F) until golden brown.

CURRIED SAUTéED SHAD ROE

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the shad roe. Put in a dish and add milk. Turn the roe in the milk.
• Blend the flour, curry powder, salt and pepper.
• Remove roe from milk; dredge to coat well in the flour mixture.
• Heat half of the oil in a skillet and cook two pair of roe. When browned on one side, turn and cover closely with a lid. Continue cooking until cooked through. The cooking time will depend on size, from 5 to 8 minutes (very large roe may require 10 minutes). To test for doneness, press down on top of the roe. If they are soft, they are not done; if firm, they are. Transfer the roe to a warm platter.
• Cook the remaining roe and when done transfer them to the platter.
• Pour off the oil from the skillet and add the butter. Cook, swirling it around, until it is hazelnut brown. Pour this over the roe. Garnish the top of each pair of roe with one lemon slice and sprinkle lightly with lemon juice and parsley. Serve, if desired, with chutney on the side.

PAN-FRIED SHAD ROE WITH LEMON PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Carefully separate the lobes of the shad roe and season it with Maldon sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper on both sides. Set aside.
• Heat up a cast iron pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter and a swirl of olive oil. Make sure that the bottom of the pan is evenly coated.
• Add the chopped garlic and move it around in the pan with a wooden spatula until it turns golden.
• Gently lay the shad roe into the pan and let it brown for 3 to 5 minutes on each side. It should feel firm, like a medium cooked steak. Set on a plate.
• Lower the heat and add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan with the chopped parsley until it has softened and mixed well with the garlic bits in the pan. Squeeze in the lemon juice to loosen it into a sauce. Add a little bit more butter or olive oil, if necessary. Taste and adjust the flavor.
• Spoon the sauce over the shad roe.

SHAD ROE PAN FRIED WITH BACON

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. Dredge roe in seasoned flour. In a saute pan over medium heat, heat oil until hot. Add roe to pan and cook top side (side without vein) until well browned. Reduce heat, turn roe over, and continue to cook on second side until well browned and almost firm. Cover pan slightly to avoid dangerous splattering. Remove roe and blot on paper. Return saute pan to heat. Add butter, let melt, and cook until brown. Add lemon juice, allow to sizzle, and add chopped parsley. Plate roe and drizzle lemon butter over top. Serve smoked bacon on top of roe.;

SHAD ROE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet. While foaming is subsiding, lightly dredge roe in flour and shake off excess. Add roe and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Turn over, and brown on the other side. Remove the roe to a plate. If necessary add more butter to the skillet. Add ginger and saute for a moment. Add lemon juice and remove from heat; season with salt and pepper, add parsley or chives and spoon over shad. Serve with lemon or lime wedges.

SHAD ROE WITH SORREL SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter for the sauce in a small pan. Drop in the sorrel leaves, and
• cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the liquid has evaporated.
• The sorrel will turn a khaki color, but don't let that bother you. Season with salt and pepper and just a tiny pinch of sugar. Pour in the cream, and cook for about 5 minutes, until thickened. Keep warm.
• Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons butter in a small skillet that will just hold the shad roe. Rub the milk over the roe, dredge in flour, season with salt and pepper, and slip the roe into the pan. Cook slowly for about 5 minutes, turning once. Arrange on a warm plate, and spoon the sauce around.