Salată de Icre (Romanian Carp Roe Spread)
Local name: Salată de icre
In short: A pale, fluffy spread of salted carp roe whipped with oil, soaked bread and onion, the Romanian cousin of taramasalata for Lent and Easter. It takes about 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 255 kcal
Salată de icre is a pale, creamy spread of salted carp roe, whipped slowly with oil until it looks like thick mayonnaise. It is a Romanian classic for Lent, Easter and any table with a glass of țuică or wine, spooned onto bread with olives and raw onion. If you can find tarama, the cod roe paste sold in Greek and Turkish shops, it works very well.
Instructions
- If the roe is very salty, rinse it briefly in a fine sieve under cold water and drain well. Put it in a bowl with the squeezed bread.
- Beat with a whisk, a wooden spoon or a mixer on low speed until the mixture is smooth and no lumps of bread remain.
- Add the oil a few drops at a time at first, then in a thin stream, beating constantly. The mixture should lighten in color and turn thick and fluffy.
- Beat in the lemon juice and cold water, alternating with the last of the oil, until the spread is airy and pale. Fold in the grated onion.
- Taste, since it rarely needs salt, and add a little more lemon if you like it sharper. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Serve cold, spooned onto a plate with olives, tomatoes and bread.
Tips
- Soaked bread can be swapped for 1 small boiled potato, mashed and cooled. That also makes the spread gluten-free.
- Add the oil slowly, especially at the start. If the mixture splits, beat in a spoonful of cold water and it should come back together.
Questions and answers
What kind of roe do I need for salată de icre?
Salted carp roe, sold as icre de crap, is classic. Tarama, a salted cod or carp roe paste found in Greek and Turkish shops, is a common substitute.
Is salată de icre the same as taramasalata?
They are close cousins. Both beat salted roe with oil and bread or potato. The Romanian version is often finished with grated raw onion and has a lighter lemon note.
How long does it keep?
Up to 3 days in a covered container in the fridge. The roe is cured, not cooked, so buy it from a trusted source and skip it for pregnant or immunocompromised guests.
How long does it take to make Salată de Icre (Romanian Carp Roe Spread)?
About 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Salată de Icre (Romanian Carp Roe Spread)?
About 255 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 4 g of carbohydrates and 24 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 255 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
