Tuna bottarga : you've definitely heard of it, you've probably even tasted it, but do you know exactly what it is? We will explain what tuna bottarga is below together with how it is used in the kitchen in the most disparate recipes of Sicilian and non-Sicilian cuisine . Here we will just give you a spoiler that, if you don't already know where it comes from, you will probably be surprised. But let's go in order.
What is tuna bottarga?
Tuna bottarga, in addition to being a traditional Sicilian (but also Sardinian) delicacy, is nothing other than the bag containing salted, pressed and dried tuna roe . Bottarga has an intense flavor reminiscent of the sea, therefore it is loved by those who love fish cuisine.
It's easy to tell how it's done. The sac containing the eggs is taken whole from inside the tuna, then it is put in salt to eliminate the moisture. It is then pressed and hung to dry in the open air for several days. Until dry, hard blocks are obtained which are then vacuum-packed before being put on sale.
Property
In addition to being a sought-after ingredient, tuna bottarga is rich in properties . Among the most interesting we mention:
- the content of high biological quality proteins
- that of Omega 3 and other polyunsaturated fatty acids (which boast antioxidant power).
100 grams of tuna bottarga contain approximately 370 calories .
How do you eat tuna bottarga?
Bottarga is excellent to eat raw . Avoid cooking it, at most barely heat it even when it is included as an ingredient in the numerous recipes we are about to suggest. The heat would compromise the yield, it would be a real waste. You can eat it cut into slices or sprinkled on an incredible number of dishes as a condiment.
For example, you can sprinkle it on pasta, risotto or vegetarian side dishes. It can be grated either with a microplane or with a mandolin. A secret to making it when it is too soft is to put it in the freezer for about twenty minutes before doing so. To tone down the salty flavour, you can sprinkle it with a few drops of lemon juice.
What can you do with tuna bottarga?
Let's start from the assumption that bottarga is a wild card food, quite versatile in the kitchen like parmesan or soy sauce. Naturally it is more expensive than these, and therefore its use also becomes more economical in the kitchen. Which, let's face it, makes it even more sought after.
You can spread it on scrambled eggs, on a seafood risotto, on vegetable side dishes (such as steamed broccoli and cauliflower or on grilled courgettes). Of course you can sprinkle it on spaghetti and pasta in general. You can still spread it on bread seasoned with extra virgin olive oil or quality butter. Try it on a simple tomato salad, it will never have tasted so good.
Radobera, CC BY-SA 3.0, , via Wikimedia Commons
How do you use tuna bottarga powder?
Powdered tuna bottarga is also an ingredient with a thousand uses in the kitchen. In addition to the uses just seen, you can use it to flavor hard-boiled or soft-boiled eggs or common steamed white rice. Among the most delicious - and perhaps even most unusual - bottarga pairings are with mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus or fresh beef tartare.
Tuna bottarga recipes
Let's start with the recipes for cold, tasty and summer appetizers with bottarga, which are suitable for aperitifs in company as well as more or less formal menus, depending on the occasion.
- One of the simplest is this similar salad of bottarga and celery , cut into pieces and simply dressed with lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil.
- The bottarga crostini are also delicious, to be completed with avocado or burrata, among other ingredients.
- Finally, the bottarga and cherry tomatoes appetizer remains a perfect must for the summer.
As for first courses, we suggest you try the bottarga and artichoke pasta , or lemon, or anchovies or broccoli. Or a nice risotto with bottarga and courgettes, or saffron or, again, prawns.
Tuna bottarga, Sicilian recipe
If you are looking for a Sicilian recipe with tuna bottarga we can only recommend the most loved one, spaghetti sautéed in a pan with excellent quality extra virgin olive oil , garlic, chilli pepper , parsley and lemon zest. Completed, of course, by a generous grating of tuna bottarga. At the first taste, magic!
How to preserve bottarga
How to store leftover tuna bottarga ? Nothing simpler. Its preparation method makes it suitable for long preservation, so once used you can wrap it in transparent film (greasing it to taste with a little olive oil) and then in foil and place it in the fridge. If you are careful to moisten it with a little oil from time to time, it can last in the fridge for months.
Tuna bottarga, price
Let's get to the price . The cost of bottarga is not cheap, but not prohibitive either (as you can see by purchasing on SicilyAddict ). Obviously the value depends on the form (powder or whole) and the origin (that of Cabras, in Sardinia, for example, costs between €65 and up to €300 per kg).
