I lived in Eastern Europe and although not the ultimate expert on caviar, I know what I am talking about. I have bought more Russian caviar as well as every variety of substitutes from salmon to whitefish, trout, steelhead than most people in a lifetime. The first thing is you do not have to buy some exotic caviar with a high price, just buy US, domestic fish eggs without too much additives or even overly salty (like European caviar is). The best is the freshest and cleanest.
Every restaurant and cafe in Moscow and St. Petersburg is geared to selling tourists caviar, but the best place to buy it is in a local fish shop, this is the price the locals will pay.
I say this not only for ethical reasons, like the illegal, over fishing in the Caspian sea, but also, I live in Europe. The ‘old world’ tastes on any food product is not congruent with the new American diet. Unless you are getting food from an organic enlighten agricultural source, the food is generally overly professed with salt and sugar or some strong additive in Eastern Europe when it comes to canned or packaged foods. Let me say, it is great to be back in the USA.
How to buy Caviar
- Try caviar alternatives – I have never tried imitation from eggplant or back eyed peas but also algae, but seems very appealing to me as it is the most humane. If I can find a source this is what I would buy. I am not a vegetarian, just eaten a lot of bad caviar in my life.
- Cleanest, lowest additive ingredients – When buying caviar look for the caviar that has the lowest added things like msg and additives. My main point is when buying caviar buy the most natural and from the freshest, cleanest water. I do not think China or Russian or Iranian caviar is the cleanest. I prefer domestic or Icelandic.
- Tube Caviar is the lowest form of fish eggs, like ‘drink’ is to ‘ fresh squeezed juice’. It might be easy to spread but I do not recommend you buy it.
Sturgeon from the Caspian sea, Black Beluga caviar, is the most prestigious, but not the best taste. I know this is scandalous, but I simply did not feel a superior taste, than some American brands that were from quality.
I prefer simple red salmon roe.
These are only a couple of nutrients you find in caviar. Macro and micro nutrient rich, better than taking pills if you can afford it.
Why eat caviar
- DHA, EPA, phosphatidylserine, Astaxanthin (found in the pinkish salmon roe), protein. These are all brain food. However, I do not think it is the most cost-effective way to nourish your brain. I think the red is the healthiest, black or white or yellow is good but pinkish has the highest level of Astaxanthin (powerful anti-oxidant).
- The issue is the high salt content and cost makes it prohibitive for anything but a sushi treat from time to time. It is better to get these nutrients from raw egg yolks or herring for example.
- It taste good.
How I like my fish eggs
- The most basic cracker
- In scrambled eggs
- The best is in a sushi roll
My wife simply cooks rice and roll seaweed and sprinkles some red caviar over the roll. You do not have to pay a lot for sushi and caviar or eat it by the spoonful with mother of pearl spoons, that is decadent. To answer the question, yes caviar is healthy, like fish maybe better as an egg is a seed of potential life, just watch the sodium. Ask me questions on brain health or these exotic salmon roe and sturgeon eggs .
Leave a reply to Caviar health