Caviar Pasta

My sister had this dish once at a birthday party in the south of France (okay yes I hear that sentence and I am moving onward). It is deliciously simple yet decadent enough for a special occasion. And, even though caviar seems like a luxury few can afford, this dish is actually much less expensive than making, say, scallops or a nice steak.

Salmon caviar, is the most ubiquitous and the most affordable of all caviars. It can be reliably purchased at most fish markets and at more upscale grocery stores, including Whole Foods. For about $9-$12 you can buy about 2 ounces, which is plenty for 3-4 people.

This dish comes together very quickly and easily with just a few ingredients. While I am not sure that I would call this a "crowd pleaser", anyone who likes fish or sushi will appreciate it. I had a roommate in college who was a vegetarian but still ate caviar because "it is the same as eating eggs!" I did not have the heart to tell her that while chickens lay eggs, fish eggs must be extracted. But Deb is weird and that is neither here nor there.

Very little prep is involved and, barring the last minute assembly, not much work. This can be served as an appetizer course or as a main course, accompanied by a green salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 1.75oz jar of salmon roe (caviar)

• 1/2 box of thin spaghetti

• 1 lemon, squeezed

• 1/2 stick of butter

• handful of chopped flat parsley, for garnish

Method:

1. Cook the pasta as you normally would

2. While the pasta is cooking, squeeze the lemon into a small container and set aside

3. The butter can be melted but it is not required, as long as it is soft

4. When the pasta is finished cooking, drain but do not shake all the water off, the noodles should still be pretty wet.

5. Working quickly, return the pasta to the hot pot, add the softened butter, and stir so pasta is coated. Add about 2oz of lemon juice and stir.

6. Serve the desired amount of pasta on each plate and then add a heaping teaspoon of caviar to the plate. Add parsley and serve immediately.

7. If you have any caviar left, put it right on the table for people to add more :)