this is an attempt to preserve data from a now defunct website – (http://www.playingwithfireandwater.com/foodplay/2011/04/index.html)
thank god for the wayback machine… I’m attempting to archive the rest of playingwithfireandwater.com right now
With the other shad roe sac, I'm attempting a multi-stage curing process. Here it is so far:
First, it was brined for 2 days in a 3% salt solution. Then it was embedded in a thick layer of sea salt for 3 days. Next, it was allowed to dry on a rack in the refrigerator for another 3 days until the surface was thoroughly dry. After brushing off the excess salt, it was embedded in a thick layer of red miso, covered and set in the refrigerator to ferrment for 2-3 months. That's where it is now.
After that, it will be cold smoked, then dehydrated until it is hard as wood.
The intention is to transform the shad roe into a botarga-like product with the complexity of katsuobushi.
The hope is that it will be delicious.