masago
Tiny orange spheres
Masago is the roe (eggs) of capelin, a small fish in the smelt family.
The tiny orange beads appear frequently in Japanese cuisine, especially as a topping for sushi rolls or a garnish for poke bowls.
Masago adds a mild briny flavor and slight crunch.
It's less expensive than tobiko (flying fish roe), which it often substitutes for or gets confused with.
Flying fish roe
- sushiVinegared rice with toppings
- capelinSmall northern baitfish
- roeAquatic reproductive material
- garnishDecorative food topping
nigiri · maki · rice · nori · wasabi · soy sauce · ginger · sesame
Surface tactile quality
- crunchCrushing, grinding noise
- popFizzy drink, regionally
- brinyStrongly of salt
- orangeCitrus with segments
topping · sprinkle · flavor · umami · salty · delicate · small · tiny
Ore-refining process
- IcelandNordic island republic
- NorwayScandinavian coastal kingdom
- AtlanticOcean bordering Europe
- harvestGathering mature crops
fishery · sustainability · overfishing · wild-caught · ocean · cold water · spawn · eggs
tobiko
Flying fish roe
garnish · nigiri · maki · rice · nori · wasabi · soy sauce · ginger · sesame · seaweed
texture
Surface tactile quality
orange · topping · sprinkle · flavor · umami · salty · delicate · small · tiny · colorful
smelt
Ore-refining process
harvest · fishery · sustainability · overfishing · wild-caught · ocean · cold water · spawn · eggs · caviar