Lumpfish Roe

Lumpfish or lumpsuckers are bottom dwelling fish in the cold waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. They have developed sticky pelvic fins that allow them to attach to rocks and other surfaces. Their eggs or roe are eaten as a less expensive caviar and are particularly popular in Scandinavia.

While Judy and I were in Copenhagen, Denmark recently we ate dinner at an outdoor cafe situated along one of the main canals. I saw lumpfish roe as an appetizer and ordered it not having any idea what lumpfish was.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the taste. Unlike beluga caviar and salmon roe, it was not salty at all. In fact, it was rather bland and it lacked the nice "pop" that accompanies good caviar and small salmon roe.