Sea Urchin Roe

The gonads of both male and female sea urchins, usually called sea urchin roe or corals, are culinary delicacies in many parts of the world. In Mediterranean cuisines, Paracentrotus lividus is often eaten raw, or with lemon, and known as ricci on Italian menus where it is sometimes used in pasta sauces. It can also flavour omelettes, scrambled eggs, fish soup, mayonnaise, béchamel sauce for tartlets, the boullie for a soufflé, or Hollandaise sauce to make a fish sauce.

In Japan, sea urchin is known as uni (うに), and its roe can retail for as much as ¥40000 ($360) per kg; it is served raw as sashimi or in sushi, with soy sauce and wasabi.