you can’t get any fresher than live uni. we all have stuff reserved on our “to-do” list and some of these things happen by chance, like live uni. when someone tells you something is fresh there’s no better indicator than seeing it alive.
a delicacy and aphrodisiac, you want to ensure freshness as to not ruin the experience.
Other Names
sea urchin, urchin roe
Description
Uni (pronounced OO-nee, “OO” as in food) is the Japanese name for sea urchin and refers to the bright orange reproductive organs contained inside the spiny shell. The pieces vary in size from under an inch to 3″ long and the color can vary from pale yellow to dark golden orange.
What’s it taste like?
They have a creamy texture that melts in your mouth with a sweet briny flavour that can be slightly nutty. When eaten raw, it is slightly slimy making it an acquired taste for many, but when cooked it firms up giving it a texture similar to cheese.
Where do I get it?
Uni is typically packaged in small flats and sold in Japanese grocery stores. In recent years it’s started to show up at fish mongers whole, but you will have to shell and clean them yourself.
When is it best?
Uni is available all year long, but look for firm pieces that are roughly uniform in color. Their surface should have a slightly rough appearance and they should not be visibly slimy or smooth, which would indicate they were either over handled or sat in water too long during processing.
How do I use it?
The most common way to eat it is raw, either as sashimi or in sushi. They are also good steamed in sake, or mixed into sauces or pastas.
another intertesting thing about uni is its psychoactive properties. on top of its unique texture and origin, maybe this contributes to why eating uni feels extraordinary…
Chemists have created a collection of molecules that may have effects superior to marijuana. They are hybrids of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in weed, and anandamide, the euphoria-causing chemical found in sea urchin eggs.
Anandamide starts working faster than its marijuana-derived counterpart, but it is more quickly destroyed by the body. A fusion of the two chemicals may last longer while maintaining an equal or stronger effect.
