Uni is a delicacy, and is actually the gonads of the sea urchin not the actual roe. Some have described uni as an acquired taste, although those that love uni might say it tastes like the ocean. It has a briny flavor and a soft texture, and can be served straight from the shell or tossed into pasta dishes for a fresh sea flavor.
Don’t be intimidated with the spiky shell. They are surprisingly easy to open.
How to Open and Remove the Gonads (Uni) from a Sea Urchin
- Place the sea urchin, mouth side up, on a flat surface. If the spines are too prickly, wear gloves.
- With kitchen scissors, cut around the mouth to remove the shell mouth top, and discard.
- Gently shake, and invert to empty viscera in a bowl. Discard. The orange gonads remain in the bottom of the shell.
- Gently scoop out.
Sea Urchin Prep from danapointfishcompany on Vimeo.