Lobsters are eaten in many countries as an expensive delicacy. Different parts of lobsters are cooked and baked with different recipes that people love to taste. Apart from the outside parts of lobsters like shells, legs, claws, etc, you can eat a lot of the things that are found inside it. Roe and white stuff inside the lobster are considered very tasty and people like to eat it whenever they can. So what is lobster roe then?
In this article, we are going to talk about lobster roe which is also known as eggs in the female lobster. Yeah, you can eat them too. They taste very good if cooked properly. Let’s talk more about it and what type of dishes you can make from it.
Lobster Roe:
Lobster Roe or Lobster Corals are found in female lobsters in the area near their tail where the body ends and the tail starts. They are actually the eggs of female lobsters that are tiny and black-colored. The color of eggs also depends on the diet of the lobster. They turn red when cooked.
Lobster Roe comes from a lobster species called Homarus americnus found in Canada. It’s also illegal in Canada to harvest the lobsters that are producing eggs because this can seriously harm the production of lobsters.
Roe Lobsters are totally edible if cooked properly. You can use them as a sauce or add them as a side dish with any other seafood. If eaten raw, they are rubbery so you won’t be able to chew them properly. So it’s advised that you cook them a little before having a taste.
What Does Lobster Roe Taste Like?
Lobster Roe tastes salty, and juicy and has a rubbery texture. You can also find some green substance underside of the lobster. Some people say that it’s liver and stuff but if it’s a female lobster, it’s probably unfertilized eggs that are called corals. They taste delicious and when cooked, turn into an orangey shade.
Some people also say that it does not have a significant taste and that it can also taste a little bland if directly caught from the sea. Honestly, it’s all about what you prefer. Everyone’s taste varies and without trying a lobster roe, no one can tell if you are going to like it or not. So, it’s not bad if you give it a chance first.
How Can You Use Lobster Roe?
Now that you know what lobster roe is, you should know about some recipes too. We are going to tell you a popular lobster roe recipe. Cook it in your home and enjoy the heavenly taste.
Recipe:
Coral Butter Recipe
The Lobster Roe can be used as butter for steamed lobster too. Most of the time it is used just as a sauce or side dish, and using it as butter looks good. Let’s take a look at the recipe.
What You Need:
- Unsalted Butter(1.5 cups)
- Lobster Roe(4 to 5 Spoons)
How To Make:
- Boil the butter for over 1 minute in a saucepan or any good cooking utensil.
- When it is done, put the saucepan aside and let the butter cool down.
- The hardened milk and watery substance will separate.
- Remove the milk substances from the pan and keep the watery butter.
- Now put the saucepan on flame once again with the watery substance inside it.
- Take lobster roes(preferably uncooked) in a bowl and whisk it.
- After you know that those corals or roes have broken apart, put the warmed butter over them.
- When you pour the butter, the lobster roe will turn red due to its impact.
- Mix the butter and lobster roes well enough.
- Now the coral butter is ready to serve.
- Serve it with a lobster or any fish dish.
This sauce can also be used for putting it on the lobster while serving. You can also use the eggs for decoration purposes in the serving of the lobster.
In What Other Things Is Lobster Roe Used?
Apart from the butter sauce, you can indulge with it while eating lobster. You can eat it just like you eat other parts of the lobster. If you go to the restaurant or cook lobster in your home, make sure it’s not overcooked to the amount that it starts getting black.
Benefits Of Eating Lobster Roe:
Just like the whole lobster, lobster roe has many benefits too. Some of them are:
- Basically lobster roe is eggs so you will find it rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
- Even though the whole lobster is full of cholesterol, lobster roe has unsaturated fatty acids like omega 3 that help in lowering blood pressure.
- If you add lobster roe to your diet plan, it can benefit in weight loss too.
- It also contains Vitamin B12, which helps in brain development and nourishment.
Drawbacks Of Eating Lobster Roe:
Even if there are many benefits of lobster roe, you will also find some of the drawbacks:
- Eating lobster roe is illegal in the US and Canada as doing so can decrease the production and harvesting of lobsters. You can go to jail if you get caught eating it.
- If you are allergic to shellfish, then obviously any of its parts can be harmful to you.
- If it is not properly cooked, it can taste really bad.
- It can also look disgusting at first glance. But don’t judge by the looks because it tastes amazing to many people.
Is The Green Stuff Inside The Lobster Known as Lobster Roe Too?
If you are eating a full lobster, you will also come across some green substance inside it. Some people think that it’s a waste of lobster but that’s not the case. It’s actually the liver of the lobster and its color varies from light green to light brown. It is called the tomalley. You can definitely eat it along with the roe. It also tastes delicious and is found in both male and female lobsters.
If you think that you are confusing lobster roe with tomalley, you can distinguish between them by their colors. Lobster roe is dark green or black while lobster tomalley is light green or brown. Tomalley is found in the lobster’s chest cavity while it is found in the area near the tail.
How Can You Remove Lobster Roe From The Lobster?
If you do not want to eat lobster roe while eating the lobster, you can easily remove it. Take a knife and slowly use it at a slant angle if the lobster roe is on the tail. Slowly drag it around and the lobster roe will come together in one place. Now remove those lobster roe with a spoon. You can utilize them to be used as a butter sauce or you can throw them away.
If the lobster roe is in the abdomen, cut the part and slowly take away all the lobster roe from it. Throw them away or use them however you want if you like.
Is Lobster Roe Found In Every Lobster?
As lobster roe or lobster coral are eggs, they are found in female lobsters because the male lobsters cannot produce eggs. Apart from this main difference, there are certain species of lobsters that have lobster roe in them. You cannot find them in every specie of female lobster.
Sometimes it will be just your luck that you find lobster roe on lobster while buying it because the lobster harvesting companies remove the fertilized eggs from the lobster to grow them in an artificial setting.
Conclusion:
Every part of the lobster is worth eating. Lobster Roe is also one of them. Roast it or use it in butter to make a sauce, it is all up to you. Not many people know about this delicious part of female lobsters that are basically their eggs. But now that you know, do not throw them away and give them a shot. Who knows you will like them.
