Fish Roe Recipes: 9 Ways to Cook and Eat Fish Eggs

An interesting looking mass of unfertilized fish eggs that somehow tastes delicious. That’s how I’d describe fish roe. Called gaboli here in Mumbai, it’s one of my favorite foods, especially in the fried form. I also love stumbling across the roe in a whole fried mackerel or fried mullet fish, almost like finding hidden treasure.

Now while caviar has been a delicacy forever, it’s not something that us humble folk can afford. But we definitely can save a bit to buy fish roe (fish eggs) come breeding season.

What’s the difference between caviar and fish roe? Caviar only comes from the sturgeon fish, or basically is the roe of sturgeon fish which has been cured with salt. Roe in general in can be the unfertilized eggs of any fish, and also includes caviar. Yep, it’s an umbrella name that includes fish like ilish or hilsa, trout, salmon roe, bowfin, cod and other species.

In my family, we make a whole number of dishes with gaboli (fish eggs), from simple fried roe to roe vindaloo and more. Whether it’s fried or boiled, or added to a pasta or toast, it tastes delicious. Here are some tasty fish dishes that my friends and me make with fish roe. Try ’em and let us know which version of this delicacy you like! And if you get your hands on fresh palla, the fish itself is worth frying too.

How We Cook Gaboli (Fish Roe) at Abby’s Hearth

Before we get to what our friends make, here’s how gaboli is cooked in our family. We have three recipes on the site so far.

1. Fried Gaboli – Fried Fish Roe – Fried Fish Eggs

Fried gaboli or fried fish roe is a delicacy among East Indians. Made with the eggs of the palla, illish or hilsa fish, the gaboli fry is also called Indian caviar.

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2. Gaboli Vindaloo (Fish Roe Vindaloo) – Palla Fish Roe Curry

A tangy East Indian fish roe curry made with palla or hilsa roe, Kashmiri red chillies, garlic, turmeric and vinegar. Classic East Indian vindaloo masala, from Abby's Hearth.

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Roe vindaloo served in a ceramic kadhai with whole garlic and chillies at the side.

3. How to boil and store Gaboli (Fish Roe / Fish Eggs)

A delicacy among Indians and East Indians, the fish eggs or roe is the Indian version of caviar, and called gaboli in Marathi. Usually sourced from the hilsa or illish fish, it's easy to store them for use in the winter months.

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How our Friends Cook Roe

4. Red Caviar Toasts

These Red Caviar Toasts with Salmon Roe have just 3 ingredients and are super easy to make. An impressive, delicious, fancy-pants appetizer.

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5. Funky Fettuccine with Anchovies, Bottarga and Colatura

This Funky Fettuccine with Anchovies, Bottarga & Colatura recipe is not only umami-rich, but quick and easy to make in 30 minutes or less!

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6. Mexican-Style Fish Egg Recipe

This Mexican-Style Fish Egg Recipe features a cumin and cornmeal crust, and an easy cilantro-lime gremolata. This fish egg fry is a deliciously unique way to reduce fish waste by using the less-desirable parts of the fish (offal). The cilantro-lime gremolata adds a fresh twist to the fish roe and their crunchy coating.

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7. Pasta with Bottarga, Almonds and Prawns

Seafood pasta doesn’t get much better than this busiate pasta with bottarga, almonds and prawns from Trapani in Western Sicily

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8. Boston Roll Sushi Recipe

The Boston Sushi is an inside out Japanese-style sushi roll and you can make it at home now!

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9. Dill Salmon Mousse topped with Lumpfish Roe – In the Kitch

This creamy, savory salmon mousse with citrus zing is a holiday showstopper with its five-star-quality presentation. Serve with crackers!

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Want to buy loads of fish roe and store it for the coming months? Here’s how we boil and store gaboli at home! If you’ve never cooked fish roe before, the fried gaboli is the easiest place to start. And if you’re feeling ambitious, the gaboli vindaloo is worth the extra steps.

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