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Salmon roe (Ikura)

Salmon roe, also called ikura, consists of salmon eggs served as a garnish, sushi topping, or appetizer.

Salmon roe (Ikura) — illustrative ingredient image

About Salmon roe (Ikura)

Salmon roe, called ikura in Japanese culinary usage, consists of salmon eggs removed from the ovary and usually cured before serving. It is used as a sushi topping, garnish, appetizer, and accompaniment to rice, noodles, blini, and other savoury foods.

The eggs are separate, glossy, and bead-like, with colours ranging from orange to red. Each has a resilient outer membrane that gives way when bitten, releasing a liquid, briny interior. Species, egg maturity, curing, and salt level affect firmness, colour, and flavour.

Salmon roe may be sold chilled, frozen, or preserved in seasoned brine. Curing seasons the eggs and firms them, while draining removes excess liquid. It is commonly served in small spoonfuls or scattered over food, where its bright colour and popping texture are prominent.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where salmon roe (ikura) appears

3 linked foods

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Showing 1–3 of 3

Main dishes

Rice dishes

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for salmon roe (ikura)

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

salmon roe

English

salmon roe, atlantic

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

English

salmon roe, pacific

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Salmon roe (Ikura) nutrition & diet

Salmon roe (Ikura) nutritional value

Fish, salmon and trout, chum salmon, "Ikura" (salted roe) — MEXT 10140

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the explicitly named reference form.

Calories
252kcal
Protein
32.6g
Carbs
0.2g
Fat
15.6g

Per 100 g edible portion. Values use MEXT 2023 with March 2026 corrections; the English food name is matched by food code from the official English edition. Carbohydrate is total carbohydrate by difference. Values in parentheses in the source are estimates reported by MEXT. This reference does not cover other preparations or brands.

Portions & preparation

Use the edible roe portion and distinguish fresh, frozen, pasteurized, salted, cured, or seasoned preparations. Garnishes and sushi servings may include rice, sauces, seaweed, or other ingredients, so assess the roe separately from the complete appetizer or dish.

Compare the right form: Match the reference to salmon eggs as sold, specifying fresh, frozen, pasteurized, salted, cured, seasoned, or prepared serving form.

Diet considerations

Salmon roe is animal-derived fish eggs. Compatibility changes with salt curing, preservatives, sauces, rice, seaweed products, dairy, egg, or other accompaniments. Ikura served as a topping is not equivalent to a plain roe portion, and a mixed sushi or appetizer recipe requires separate ingredient review.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically incompatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically incompatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    May be compatible
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    May be compatible
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically incompatible
The ingredient profile identifies an animal-derived food or derivative.
Vegetarian · Typically incompatible
The profile identifies animal flesh, seafood or a derivative excluded by a vegetarian diet.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
Seafood fits this pescatarian definition. Added meat-based stock or other ingredients would need checking separately.
Keto · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
Low-carb · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2023 supplement, corrected March 2026 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .