Tobiko is the Japanese word for flying fish roe (eggs), and it’s usually salty and crunchy. These brightly colored pearls of flavor are an essential garnish ingredient used in countless Japanese meals, the most notable of which are sushi rolls.
Tobiko sushi is a sushi roll made with crab (sometimes shrimp or other seafoods) and avocado.
Tobiko comes in different colors, with orange been the standard color of tobiko that you often see on fish roe sushi. If you are a sushi fan like me, you can never go wrong with tobiko sushi!
In this article, we will explain what tobiko and tobiko sushi is all about and we will also discuss the different types of tobiko, how tobiko tastes, how to store it, and how to make tobiko.
What is Tobiko (Flying Fish Roe)?
You wouldn’t be the first to have looked down at your sushi and wondered what that strange fluorescent seasoning is. It’s not some sort of supercharged pepper, and while it does have a salty taste, it’s certainly not salt.
Those tiny, colorful orbs are actually tobiko, which is the Japanese word for the eggs of the flying fish. It’s essentially just caviar but from tropical flying fish rather than sturgeon.
Measuring anywhere between 0.5 and 0.8mm in diameter, the natural hue of tobiko is orangey-red, but one of the magical things about it is that chefs can use other ingredients to dramatically alter its hue.
So don’t worry if your tobiko is green (wasabi) or even black (squid ink). It hasn’t gone bad; it’s just due to its chameleonic powers.
Compared to other roe, tobiko is middling in size. For context, it’s smaller than ikura (salmon roe), but larger than masago – capelin roe.
There are a few species of fish that like to catch some sweet air from time to time, but tropical flying fish are the only ones that genuinely look like they actually might be able to take to the skies.
Their impressive wingspan is actually composed of two enlarged pectoral fins, giving them a strikingly beautiful, dragonish look.
They can’t actually fly as their name suggests, but they are capable of using their large fins to glide, often helping them escape pelagic predators.
What Does Tobiko Taste Like?
Tobiko has a similar flavor profile to caviar, the fanciest of fancy snacks. It’s smoky, salty, but as is the case with a lot of Eastern foods, it’s also satisfyingly sweet, much more so than caviar.
It’s this umami flavor characteristic of Japan that helps tobiko stand out amongst other types of roe.
With a soft, yet crunchy texture, it compliments a wide variety of fish- and rice-based dishes, which is why you’ll see it used as the finishing touch on sushi rolls so often.
Is Tobiko Nutritious?
Much like most other fish, tobiko brings some fantastic health benefits to the dinner table. It’s chock-full of omega-3 fatty acids and practically bursting with proteins, making it a fantastic post-workout treat.
Tobiko also contains lots of selenium which our bodies use to ensure healthy reproduction, regulate thyroid gland function, DNA production, and to protect us from infection and free radicals.
Sounds pretty good, right? Well, before you start buying it by the truck-load, you should know that tobiko is also an exceedingly high cholesterol food.
So, enjoyed as a treat once every so often — perfect. Eaten every day — not so great.
More often than not, tobiko is salt-seasoned before application too, so if you’re trying to watch your sodium intake, steer clear of these enticing pearls.
Types and Colors of Tobiko
As I’ve already touched upon, tobiko has the uncanny ability to mimic the hue of another ingredient. If, for example, you mixed it with some beetroot, it would turn a very deep red and then hold its color indefinitely.
Hypothetically, you can stain tobiko with any foody dye, but the main variations you’re likely to encounter are:
Black Tobiko – Colored with squid ink.
Red Tobiko – Colored with beetroot.
Orange Tobiko – No coloration.
Yellow Tobiko – Colored with yuzu (an East Asian lemon).
Green Tobiko – Colored with wasabi.
Sometimes, tobiko is dyed not just to match ingredients in the meal, but to contrast the colors of the meal. Differently colored tobiko may also be used together in order to form enticing decorative patterns.
Where Can Tobiko Be Purchased?
If I had you at “What Is Tobiko…” and you just want to go ahead and buy some already, you should be able to find some to order in your local Japanese eatery.
If you want to have some in your fridge, so you can try your hand at using it in your own meals, try any nearby Japanese or Asian grocery stores.
Granted, Japanese grocery stores aren’t exactly a staple of most highstreets, but don’t worry if you can’t travel 200 miles to the nearest one. You can also buy some from trusty old amazon.
How To Store Tobiko to Keep it Fresh
Being that if you value your health, tobiko is more of a once-every-so-often sort of treat, you’ll need to know how to store it, so it doesn’t go bad before you get a chance to finish it. After all, it’s not exactly cheap.
The best way to keep those flying fish eggs fresher than fresh is to store them in an airtight container in your freezer.
You’ll get roughly 3 months’ life out of them keeping them in this cryogenic state, which is more than long enough to consume them responsibly, especially if you’re sharing them with dinner guests.
That said, don’t eat them when frozen. That’s just a good way to get some chipped teeth. To defrost them, simply spoon your portion into a bowl, and leave it to rest in your refrigerator for a few hours. Feel free to do this overnight to ensure they’re ready in time for your lunch.
I’d recommend covering your bowl used to defrost them as exposure to air can lead to a loss of freshness.
How To Make Tobiko Sushi
Now let’s get down to delicious business! Here’s what you’re going to need to make your very first tobiko sushi delights:
A Sushi Making Kit with a bamboo mat
Nori Sheets
Sushi Rice
Sesame Seeds
A mouth-watering filling of your choice
Eager to get cracking with your sushi experiment? Just follow this step-by-step guide.
Fold your nori sheet in half, split it, then lay one half on your bamboo mat.
Take your pre-cooked sushi rice and spread a thin layer evenly over your nori sheet.
Sprinkle some sesame seeds over your layer of rice.
Flip it! This can take a while to master, so don’t worry if things get a little messy. You need to have the rice facing down against your mat.
Load up the other side of the nori sheet with your succulent filling.
Now it’s time to roll it all up using your flexible bamboo mat to keep things nice and tight. Don’t be afraid to apply some pressure to ensure everything is stuck in place.
Unravel the bamboo mat, then sprinkle on your tobiko.
Cover the roll in plastic wrap and then the sushi mat.
Squeeze the tobiko gently into the rice of the roll.
Remove the bamboo sushi mat, but keep the plastic wrap on.
Slice the long roll into sushi-sized portions, then remove the plastic wrap.
Before we part ways for you to start your tobiko adventure, I thought it would be nice to wrap things up with a brief FAQ section just to be sure you have all the info you need.
Can You Eat tobiko raw?
It may be flavored and colored, but yes, tobiko is indeed eaten raw.
Is tobiko safe for consumption?
A fully pasteurized snack, tobiko is absolutely safe for human consumption, but it’s a good idea not to eat too much due to its high cholesterol level.
Is tobiko and masago the same thing?
Tobiko is the roe (fish eggs) of the tropical flying fish, whereas masago is the roe of the capelin. Generally much brighter, larger, and more flavorful than masago, tobiko tends to cost quite a bit more.
Tobiko sushi is a sushi roll made with crab (sometimes shrimp or other seafoods) and avocado rolled in seaweed sheet and sushi rice. Below is how to make perfect tobiko sushi.
4.5 tbsps of sushi vinegar (optional) or mixing 1/2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups of water
3 cups of short grain sushi rice
Directions
Fold your nori sheet in half, split it, then lay one half on your bamboo mat.
Take your pre-cooked sushi rice and spread a thin layer evenly over your nori sheet.
Sprinkle some sesame seeds over your layer of rice.
Flip it! This can take a while to master, so don’t worry if things get a little messy. You need to have the rice facing down against your mat.
Load up the other side of the nori sheet with your succulent filling.
Now it’s time to roll it all up using your flexible bamboo mat to keep things nice and tight. Don’t be afraid to apply some pressure to ensure everything is stuck in place.
Unravel the bamboo mat, then sprinkle on your tobiko.
Cover the roll in plastic wrap and then the sushi mat.
Squeeze the tobiko gently into the rice of the roll.
Remove the bamboo sushi mat, but keep the plastic wrap on.
Slice the long roll into sushi-sized portions, then remove the plastic wrap.
Enjoy!
Final Thoughts
There you have it; tobiko is the eggs of the tropical flying fish, and any sushi recipe that involves its use can be considered tobiko sushi.
I hope you learned everything you need to know about tobiko. Now you can enjoy this versatile snack knowing exactly what you’re eating. Bon appétit, or as they say in Japan, “meshiagare”.
