When Humus was introduced to the UK, back in the 60's, it came with a sidekick; Taramasalata.
Any new gourmet-delight that came with six a's had to be good, and for a while it became almost as popular as Humus.
Then as Humus conquered the country, Tara became the distant cousin; and even changed its colour to a bright, luminous, pink, which reduced its popularity even more.
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However, I've always liked it, and as my quest for the perfect breakfast continues I bought some to replace my morning Muesli or Bacon-Butty.
I hadn't tasted Tara for well over 20 years, and was pleasantly surprised. Its colour has calmed, its flavour is much the same, and as an alternative to Lady M's Marmalade it was perfect on 'quartered' slices of wholemeal toast.
I shan't be rushing to replace the current pot, but it will certainly remain on my mental list of 'nice things to eat'.
A good decision!
I remember the name but that is all. Healthier than a bacon butty I suspect.
ReplyDeleteI imagine so. Very nice, regardless.
DeleteNow you've gone and done it. Next job get some cod roe.
ReplyDeleteLife is too short to make your own. Try Sainsbury's.
Delete"Life is too short"? Cro, with the aid of your new Moulinex you'll find making Taramasalata from scratch as fast if not faster than your hummous. All you need to find is a fishmongers who sells the roe.
DeleteBy the way, there is/was a reason for taramasalata to be pink. When it's made with the original mullet's roe (lightly smoked) it was pretty much red. However, mullet's roe being fiendishly expensive cod's roe is now used instead. Cod's roe being pale (think the grey of brain - about as appetizing as the look of mushroom soup); so, adding a bit of beetroot juice gave/gives it that desired hue of the original. Just shows you, the world is full of deception. And misconceptions. Even immaculate ones.
U
Anything that glows in the dark doesn't enter my stomach.
DeleteAgreed! That bright pink is very off-putting. Our fish eggs are a greyish pink when you buy them but after adding all the ingredients it comes out a pleasing-to-the-eye and stomach colour.
DeleteLet's leave aside my continued disappointment that few people actually read comments properly. Pretty disheartening, truth be told. Never mind, onwards and upwards.
DeleteCro, if you are happy to eat Sainsbury's interpretation of Taramasalata, a concoction one can easily make oneself - to better effect - so be it. Top of the list of ingredients, closely followed by water? Rapeseed oil. Pardon? Ask Local Alien, if not me: OLIVE oil is a must. Of Sainsbury's end product only 7 % of the ingredients is the actual roe. Great, isn't it? Waitrose does better at 15 %. And to make myself really popular may I remind you of the packaging that comes with "tubs". Next you'll be buying a tub of Tzatziki (cucumber and Greek yoghurt) when all you need is a cucumber, the yoghurt, maybe some garlic, sea salt and OLIVE oil.
Vaguely disgruntled,
U
Never yet have I BOUGHT Tzatziki. I make it often (in Summer), but have never bought it. Very very disgruntled!
DeleteMmm, my favourite. 'Tara' will appear soon on shelves in all the supermarkets. It's one of the basics of the Lenten season. That bright pink stuff is the cheapest, full of some sort of very bright dye. We rarely buy it ready made. We buy the lightly coloured, pinkish, almost grey, salted fish eggs by the gram and add bread or potato, onion, lemon juice and lots of olive oil to it to make the taramas-salata, literally fish roe salad. I'm the only one around here who prefers the taramousalata ready made in a tub from the supermarket fridge. It's much creamier and the taste is not so strong.
ReplyDeleteLovely on toast!
The tub I had (some of) this morning was deliciously light and tasty. I'd forgotten what a delight it is.
DeleteFrom the little I was able to read the ingredients I saw beets and sugar, maybe hence the color red.I know it here in pink. And very salty.
ReplyDeleteIt's not salty here, in fact I had to add a little salt to make the flavour more pronounced. I suppose it is very slightly pink.
DeleteHumus is dark, organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but it tastes very good.
DeleteI have never even heard of this! Good heavens, the things I learn from blogs. That being said, I do believe that I will stick to my sliced avocado or tomato on toast. I find that I'm the least adventurous first thing in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI'm always on the look-out for new delights for breakfast. I eat my breakfast alone, so am able to try all sorts of different things.
DeleteI will have to try this. Although when I have lobster in the rough and my lobster has roe inside, I push it aside, not caring for the taste.
ReplyDeleteIn which case I suggest you buy a small tub of Tara' at once. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.
DeleteTaramasalata, I haven't heard that name in decades. Didn't know what it was then and still don't now. I'll zip off to google and find out.
ReplyDeleteIt's basically Fish roe, mixed with bread, olive oil, and some lemon. It is reduced to a fine paste and eaten on toast etc. Very tasty.
DeleteOh my word. Amanda loves the stuff and you have just added to her argument.
ReplyDelete