Mullet roe is a highly-priced delicacy typically served during special occasions like wedding banquets or Chinese New Year’s dinners, where families come together in celebration. The mullet roe can be prepared in various ways. It is usually pan-fried but can also be roasted or torched. To cook a pan-fried mullet roe, soak it in liquor or wine and peel off its membrane. Then, it is browned over a low fire and turned several times. Finally, the fried mullet roe is cut diagonally and is ready to be served. This dish is usually served with garlic scapes and daikon slices, but it’s especially tasty when paired with apple slices.
烏魚子價格昂貴，常出現在特別的場合，如婚宴喜酒或是家人團聚的年夜飯。烏魚子料理方式多元，常用平底鍋煎，但也可以用烤箱或火烤。煎烏魚子時先將烏魚子用酒浸泡，剝掉烏魚子的薄膜，用小火煎並翻面，直至表皮呈現棕色。將煎過的烏魚子斜切成片即可盛盤，常會配蒜苗和白蘿蔔，尤其配蘋果片最美味。
mullet (n.) 烏魚（又稱鯔魚），複數同為 mullet
Photo: WikiCommons 圖片: WikiCommons
roe (n.) 魚卵
membrane (n.) 薄膜
diagonally (adv.) 斜斜地，對角線地
Taiwanese fishermen have been catching mullet in the winter for centuries. In the colder time of year, the mullet fish living in the northwestern Pacific Ocean begin to migrate south in groups, looking for suitable areas for spawning. Around the winter solstice, they arrive in the southwestern waters of Taiwan and spawn between Kaohsiung and Pingtung. The female mullet that come to the waters near Taiwan to spawn are often in their most plump and mature state. That’s why Taiwan’s wild mullet roe is well-known for its quality.
台灣漁民在冬季捕烏魚已有數百年歷史。天氣轉冷時，生活在太平洋西北部的烏魚會南遷，尋找適合產卵的溫暖水域。它們會在冬至前後抵達台灣西南部海域，於高雄和屏東附近產卵。來到台灣附近海域產卵的母烏魚最為豐滿成熟，因此台灣的野生烏魚子素以品質著稱。
migrate (v.) （魚類）洄游；（鳥或動物）遷徙
spawn (v.) 產卵
winter solstice (n. phr.) 冬至
plump (adj.) 豐滿的
Each step in processing mullet roe is crucial to its deliciousness. The mullet roe takes about a week to process. After cutting the belly of the captured female mullet, the ovaries are taken out from the mullet and rinsed carefully. Then, the roe will be dehydrated by salting it, compressed between boards, and dried using sun exposure and shade drying. If too much salt is applied, the mullet roe will be excessively salty, but if not enough salt is applied, the roe will not have a great texture and flavor. And if it is not dehydrated properly, the mullet roe will deteriorate easily. After finishing these intricate processes, mullet roe is commonly vacuum-packed for long-term preservation. It is usually packaged in gift boxes, making it an excellent present for family and friends.
烏魚子的每一工序都是美味的關鍵。處理烏魚子大約需要一週時間，將捕獲的母烏魚剖腹後，小心地取出卵巢沖洗乾淨，然後塗抹鹽巴去除水分，用木板壓平後日曬及陰乾。如果塗抹的鹽過多，烏魚子會太鹹；太少則風味口感均不佳。如果未妥善乾燥，還很容易變質。經過多道繁瑣工序後，烏魚子大多會用真空包裝，以利長期保存，一般都裝在精美禮盒中，用來送給親朋好友。
ovary (n.) 卵巢
rinse (v.) 沖洗乾淨
dehydrate (v.) 脫水，乾燥
exposure (n.) 日曬，曝曬
deteriorate (v.) 變質，惡化
vacuum-packed (adj.) 真空包裝
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