멘타이코 (명란젓, 明太子)

톡톡 튀는 식감이 즐거운 명태알에 고추가루가 들어있는 조미료 등에 절인 카라시 멘타이코. [좋아하는 주먹밥 재료]에 대해 조사를 하면 항상 상위에 랭크인 되는 인기 재료이다. 밥과 잘 어울리는 것은 물론, 술안주로도, 하카타 명물인 하카타 라멘에 올려서, 포테토 샐러드에 넣기도 하고, 파스타에 버무려서 먹는 등 맛있게 먹는 방법이 많다.

Mentaiko (Cod Roe)

Tarako is plain, salted sacks of pollock or cod roe. The tiny roe are packed tightly together and encased in a very thin membrane. It is the roe of the Alaskan pollock fish, which is part of the cod family. The Japanese word, tarako, literally translates to children of cod: “tara” meaning cod, and “ko” which means children. Tarako is typically sold raw, and usually identified by its neutral color which is a nude, almost beige, with light pink undertones. Mentaiko is identical to tarako in that it is a sack of salted cod roe, but differ from tarako in that the roe is marinated in different seasonings and spices to create an array of subtly different flavor profiles. You’ll find that raw mentaiko is offered in different colors, ranging from a muted pink to bright red, depending on the food manufacturer. Mentaiko is sometimes referred to as “karashi mentaiko”.