The Japanese love a bit of piscine semen. For that matter, the dish has spread throughout the civilized world. Americans call it “milt.” The Japanese call it shirako. The Russians relish a little moloka (herring milt).
Reminiscent of the human brain’s slimy labyrinth of gyri and fissures, shirako is actually the fluid-filled sperm sac of a fish. Although the sac is most often extracted from cod, it is sometimes taken from salmon, puffer fish, and anglerfish.
Shirako is served in a variety of formats. Chefs have been known to deep-fry the reproductive apparatus in batter, saute it, or put it in a hot pot. For hard-core diners, shirako is frequently served raw with spring onions, leeks, and a citrus dressing. In terms of taste, the semen-packed snack is creamy, mildly sweet, and has a hint of tofu about it.
It may have all the aesthetic appeal of a Tim Burton film prop, but at least it offers some nutritional value. The fishy dish is packed with vitamin B, calcium, potassium, and protein.
Caviar might not seem like such an unpalatable dish after all.
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