Curing Roe from scratch?

I was fortunate enough to hoop-up my first hatchery hen yesterday. So, today I have roe to cure. This is how I did it.

I placed the roe on a piece of news paper and allowed it to air dry for about 20 minutes.

Next I butterflied it open like a chicken breast. Not too open, but just enough to open it up a little.

Next I gave it a rub down with Anise extract. It's right next to the vanilla in the grocery store. It smells like lickerish.

Next I sprinkled it lightly with 20 mules Borax on one side, then the other and let it soak in.

Next I sprinkled it with i package of Knox gelatin (by the Jello in the grocery store. it comes in packs of 4 or 12).

Next I add the rest of the gelatin packages (3) to about equal parts of Borax in a zip-lock. You can use more Borax if you have a lot of roe.

At this point you may want to add orange Jello for color.

Now put the roe inside the zip-lock with the Borax and gelatin (and Jello) and give it a shake. There should be a lot of extra Borax mixture in the zip-lock.

About every 15 minutes or as long as you can stand not touching it, give it a gentle shake and roll.

After about a couple of hours or so, the roe should be about finished with sucking up the Borax mixture.

The roe is now ready to freeze or take straight to the river.

Enjoy!

 

I actually like that recipe.  Air drying time may vary.  Also, make sure you use pure anise oil instead of extract which contains alcohol.

-Allen

It smells so good, I'm tempted to give it a taste. I'm just not sure about the borax. I don't want to expel fart bubbles.

I don't want to expel fart bubbles.

use a wader belt and you can float down the River

While attending a sturgeon seminar at the ISE in Sacto the person giving the seminar said he almost exclusively uses roe to fish for sturgeon. His boat had over 500 sturgeon last year. They cure their own roe and certainly would not give up the recipe. He did however say to DEFINITELY stay away from using Borax.
I have never cured roe before. What would one use as a substitute for Borax? Salt?
I really have not a clue.

Borax is certainly the standard deal for steelhead.  I had never made my own until today...thanks for coming by Mahi and Kickin bass!  I used this recipe...http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/resourcecenter/eggs.htm The roe looks and feels great.  I was a little concerned that I over brined it at first, but it looks good now.