Shad Roe Recipes

SHAD ROE PAN FRIED WITH BACON

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. Dredge roe in seasoned flour. In a saute pan over medium heat, heat oil until hot. Add roe to pan and cook top side (side without vein) until well browned. Reduce heat, turn roe over, and continue to cook on second side until well browned and almost firm. Cover pan slightly to avoid dangerous splattering. Remove roe and blot on paper. Return saute pan to heat. Add butter, let melt, and cook until brown. Add lemon juice, allow to sizzle, and add chopped parsley. Plate roe and drizzle lemon butter over top. Serve smoked bacon on top of roe.;

SHAD ROE WITH BEETS, BACON, AND BALSAMIC

Steps:

• Place each variety of beet in a separate saucepan; divide fennel slices, garlic, apple pieces, 4 sprigs of thyme, bay leaves, and 2 tablespoons salt evenly between saucepans. Add enough water to each saucepan to cover contents by 4 inches. Place each saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil; immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cook until beets are easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 25 to 35 minutes. Drain and discard all contents except for beets.
• Peel and quarter beets. Transfer each variety to its own bowl. Toss each with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Place flour in a shallow dish and season with salt. Add shad roe and gently toss to coat, shaking off excess. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Place bacon slices in a large nonstick skillet and cook over medium heat until bacon is crisp and fat has been rendered. Remove bacon from skillet and set aside. Remove all but 3 tablespoons bacon fat and discard. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, shad roe, and remaining 2 sprigs thyme to skillet. Cook for 1 minute and turn; add butter and continue cooking until shad roe reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees on an instant read thermometer, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
• To serve, divide beets, bacon, and frisee evenly between 4 plates. Place shad roe on each plate and sprinkle with sea salt and chopped herbs. Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and balsamic vinegar before serving.

SHAD ROE SAUTEED IN BUTTER

Steps:

• Puncture the roe in several places with a pin.
• Season roe with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet with a lid.
• Add roe and GENTLY saute for 3-4 minutes. Turn over with care, using a spatula.
• Cover and let simmer for about 6 or 7 minutes.
• Divide roe in half carefully. Transfer to plates.
• Spoon melted butter over roe, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
• Enjoy!

FRIED SHAD ROE

Steps:

• Place shad roe in saucepan and cover with water to which salt and vinegar have been added.
• Simmer 20 minutes; drain and cover with cold water for five minutes.
• Drain again; sprinkle with salt and pepper, dip in flour and fry in hot deep fat (375F) until golden brown.

SHAD ROE WITH SORREL SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter for the sauce in a small pan. Drop in the sorrel leaves, and
• cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the liquid has evaporated.
• The sorrel will turn a khaki color, but don't let that bother you. Season with salt and pepper and just a tiny pinch of sugar. Pour in the cream, and cook for about 5 minutes, until thickened. Keep warm.
• Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons butter in a small skillet that will just hold the shad roe. Rub the milk over the roe, dredge in flour, season with salt and pepper, and slip the roe into the pan. Cook slowly for about 5 minutes, turning once. Arrange on a warm plate, and spoon the sauce around.

SHAD ROE WITH BACON

Steps:

• Cut the pairs of roe in half, taking care not to damage the membrane. Wipe them dry with paper towels and set aside.
• Cook the bacon in a large skillet (preferably cast iron) and drain on paper towels. Pour the fat from the skillet and wipe the pan with a paper towel.
• Add the oil and butter to the skillet and when hot, add the roe and saute on both sides until lightly browned but pinkish in the middle. Do not overcook or the roe will be dry. Season with salt and pepper and serve garnished with lemon.

SHAD ROE POACHED IN BUTTER

Steps:

• Gently pull the sacs away from each other, and the membrane attaching them will come apart. Snip any pieces of membrane that do not break easily with kitchen scissors. Take care not to tear the sacs. Run them under cool water, and pat them dry.
• To know how much butter to poach the roe in, place the sacs in a straight-sided frying pan or saucepan just large enough to hold them in one layer. Add water to halfway up the sides of the sacs. Drain water off into a measuring cup. The level of water in the measuring cup is the level that the melted butter to cook the roe should reach. (In poaching pike or striped bass roe, the water should almost cover it. Both of those puff up in cooking, so they will need more butter.)
• Remove the roe from the pan, and wipe the pan dry. Place the melted butter in the pan over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling, carefully slip the roe into the pan in one layer. Return to a boil.
• Cook over medium heat for 1 minute to firm up the roe. Turn the heat to low (bubbles should be breaking the surface, but not vigorously). Cook for 2 minutes. Gently move each piece to assure that it does not stick. Continue to cook 4 minutes more (5 minutes more for the bass, 27 minutes more for the pike). Carefully flip each piece. Cook for 3 minutes, moving roe gently so that it does not stick. Continue to cook until the roe sacs have changed color and are opaque all the way through, 4 minutes for the shad, 5 minutes for the bass and 27 minutes for the pike. Move the pike occasionally to keep it from sticking.

ERIC'S SAUTEED SHAD ROE WITH BACON-BUTTER SAUCE AND FRISEE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Place bacon in a medium skillet, and cook over high heat until bacon is golden and just crisp. Remove 2 tablespoons bacon, and drain on a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. Continue cooking the remaining bacon until very crisp but not blackened. Transfer to a fine sieve; discard bacon fat. Transfer crisp bacon to the jar of a blender.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Add butter, piece by piece, whisking constantly until incorporated. Add the chicken-stock mixture to the blender, and blend on high speed until bacon is pureed. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a warm place until ready to serve.
• Cook the shad roe: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a sharp knife, trim shad roe, and divide into 2 pieces, being careful not to tear the membrane. Pour flour into a shallow bowl, and season with salt and pepper; dust pieces lightly with the flour.
• In a medium nonstick ovenproof saute pan, heat grapeseed oil over medium heat. Add shad roe, and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn, and transfer the saute pan to the oven until roe is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from saute pan, and set aside while preparing salad.
• Make the salad: In a large bowl, combine vinegar, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Whisk to combine. Slowly add olive oil, whisking constantly, until combined. Add frisee and the reserved bacon; toss to combine.
• To serve: Slice the shad roe crosswise on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Divide among four plates. Spoon the bacon sauce over, and serve immediately with the frisee salad on the side.

SHAD ROE WITH MUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat an 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for a minute or two, then add the butter. When it melts, gently lay the shad roe in the pan and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until the underside is lightly browned.
• Turn very gently-a large spatula is best for this-and season the cooked side. Cook for another 3 minutes or so, again until the underside is lightly browned. By this time the roe should be quite firm to the touch; if it is still soft, cover the pan and cook for another minute or two, then cut into it to check. When done, the center will be red and the area surrounding it pink.
• Transfer the roe to a warm plate. Add the mustard and 1/4 cup of water to the pan; stir. Raise the heat to high and stir the sauce with a wooden spoon until smooth and thick. Spoon over the roe, garnish if you like, and serve immediately.
• Shad Roe with Capers and Vinegar: In step 3, omit the mustard. Instead, stir in 2 tablespoons capers, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until blended and the liquid is reduced by about half. Spoon over the roe, garnish, and serve.
• Shad Roe with Bacon: Omit the butter. Begin by cooking 4 thick slices good-quality bacon over medium heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon is done; remove the bacon and keep warm. Cook the shad roe in the bacon fat, exactly as directed. Serve the shad roe and bacon with lemon wedges, garnished with fresh parsley.