Taramosalata (Greek: ταραμοσαλάτα, from taramas, from Turkish: tarama "meze made from fish roe"[1] + salata "salad"[2]) is a Greek and Turkish[3] meze. It is traditionally made from taramas, the salted and cured roe of the cod or the carp, though blends based on other forms of fish roe, particularly cod, have become more common. The roe is mixed with either bread crumbs or mashed potato, and lemon juice, vinegar and olive oil. It is usually eaten as a dip, with bread or raw vegetables. The colour can vary from creamy beige to pink, depending on the type of roe used. Mass-produced taramosalata is often a bright pink due to the addition of food colouring. The alternative spelling 'taramasalata' is sometimes found.[4]
A similar dip or spread, salata de icre ('roe salad' in Romanian) is also common in Romania and Bulgaria (known as хайвер, or haiver). It is made with carp roe or herring roe but generally with sunflower or vegetable oil instead of olive oil and without any thickener like bread crumbs or mashed potato. It is mass produced and is widely available in grocery shops and supermarkets, as well as being made at home, in which case chopped onions are commonly added.
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