What is Tobiko and Tobiko Sushi

What is tobiko and how to use it in sushi? In this post, you’ll learn everything about these delicious fish eggs. Tobiko is the Japanese word for flying fish roe, which is crunchy and salty with a hint of smoke. It’s a popular ingredient in Japanese cuisine as a garnish to sushi rolls.

What Is Tobiko (Flying Fish Roe)?

You’ve probably noticed that there is some bright-colored stuff sitting on top of some Japanese sashimi or sushi rolls at restaurants or supermarkets. Most of the time, these are tobiko eggs or flying fish roe.

Tobiko eggs are small, pearl-like blobs that range from 0.5 to 0.8 mm in diameter. Natural tobiko has a red-orange color, but it can easily take on the color of another ingredient to become green, black or other colors.

Tobiko is larger than masago or capelin roe, and smaller than ikura, which is salmon roe. It’s often used in sashimi, maki or other Japanese fish dishes.

What Does Tobiko Taste Like?

It has a mild smoky and salty taste and slightly sweeter than other types of roe. With a crunchy but soft texture, it complements rice and fish very well. It’s quite satisfying of biting into tobiko garnished sushi rolls. 

Nutrition Value 

Tobiko is a good source of proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and selenium, a mineral responsible for the production of antioxidants. However, due to its high levels of cholesterol, it should be taken in moderation. 

Where To Buy Tobiko?

In the US, you can find tobiko at local Japanese or Asian grocery stores. Alternatively, you can order them online from amazon. 

How To Store Tobiko?

Tobiko can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you need to use it, just use a spoon to take out the amount you need into a bowl, let it thaw and put the rest back into the freezer. 

How To Make Tobiko Sushi

• First fold the nori sheet in half to split it and place half of the nori on top of the bamboo mat. 
• Spread cooked sushi rice evenly over nori and sprinkle sesame seeds on top of rice. 
• Then flip everything so that rice is facing down. Place your favorite fillings on top of the nori.
• Start rolling using your bamboo mat and firmly keep the roll in place. Apply some pressure to tighten it up.
• Remove the bamboo mat, and add tobiko on top of your sushi roll. Place a piece of plastic wrap on top, and cover with the sushi mat. Squeeze gently to press the tobiko around the roll. 
• Then remove the mat and keep the plastic wrap, then slice the roll into bite-size pieces. Remove the plastic wrap and enjoy!

Frequently asked questions

Is Tobiko Raw?

Yes, tobiko is the flavored and colored raw eggs of the flying fish. 

Is Tobiko Safe To Eat?

Yes, tobiko is thoroughly pasteurized and it’s safe to eat. However, it should be eaten in moderation because of its high cholesterol content. 

What’s The Difference Between Tobiko And Masago?

Both tobiko and masago are fish roe that are common in sushi rolls. Tobiko is flying fish roe while masago is egg of Capelin. Tobiko is larger, brighter with more flavor, as a result, it’s much more expensive than masago.

Popular Recipes Using Tobiko

• Boston Roll
• Tobiko Sauce
• Volcano Rolls
• Salmon Tobiko Bowls
• Tobiko Salmon Mayo Rice

More Japanese Sushi Rolls You May Like

• Oshinko Roll
• Spicy Salmon Roll
• Caterpillar Roll

Tobiko Sushi Recipe

Tobiko Sushi Roll is made with your favorite fillings rolled in seaweed sheet and sushi rice, with a tobiko topping. It’s so easy to make and I’ll share with you how to make perfect tobiko sushi.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 24 pieces (3 Rolls)

Author: Izzy

Calories: 69kcal

Ingredients 

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For Sushi Rice

• ▢ 1 cup sushi rice short grain sushi rice
• ▢ 1 cup water
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons sushi vinegar (optional) or mixing 1 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt

For Tobiko Sushi

• ▢ 3 tablespoons tobiko (flying fish roe)
• ▢ 6 oz cooked shrimp or crab, salmon, tuna, etc.
• ▢ 1/2 cucumber cut into 1/2-inch strips
• ▢ 2 sheets nori (seaweed)
• ▢ 2 avocado

Instructions 

• Cook Sushi Rice: Wash the rice and add it to the rice cooker together with water. Once cooked, transfer to a large bowl and let it cool down slightly. When it’s still very warm, stir in the optional sushi vinegar (or the mixture of rice vinegar and sugar).
• Make Tobiko Sushi: Lay out the bamboo mat with a piece of plastic wrap on top (this will make clean up easier and prevent rice from sticking to the bamboo).
• Fold the nori sheets in half and split them using a pair of scissors.
• Place half of the nori sheet on top of the bamboo.
• Take 3/4 cup of cooked rice and evenly spread over nori. (You can dip your hands in vinegar water to prevent sticking.)
• Flip everything so that rice is facing down.
• Place shrimp, avocado, and cucumber on top of the nori.
• Place the thumbs underneath the bamboo mat and lift the edge up and over the filling.
• Roll the bamboo mat away from you and apply some pressure to tighten it up. Keep rolling until the ends meet.
• Add Tobiko Topping: Remove the bamboo mat, and spread tobiko on top of the roll.
• Place plastic wrap on top, and cover with the sushi mat. Squeeze gently to press the tobiko around the roll.
• Remove the mat while keeping the plastic wrap. Slice the roll into bite-size pieces. Remove the plastic wrap from each piece. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

Author: Izzy

Course: Lunch, Snack

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: Tobiko, Tobiko Sushi, What Is Tobiko

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