Grilled Sea Urchin with Scallion Oil

To ensure the best taste, selecting fresh ingredients is crucial. When buying sea urchins, keep the following in mind:

• Choose live sea urchins: You can tell by observing their spines if they are still moving, the sea urchin is fresh.
• The bigger the sea urchin, the more and richer its roe: Prioritise larger ones for better flavour and texture.
• Pick sea urchins with long, thick spines: These usually contain more firm and flavourful roe, making them ideal for cooking.

Cooking Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Sea Urchins

• Wash the sea urchins thoroughly. Use scissors to trim the sharp spines for easier handling.
• At the bottom of each sea urchin, cut a circular opening and drain the liquid inside.
• Use tweezers or a small spoon to extract the roe, keeping only the golden or orange portions.
• Rinse the sea urchin shells with clean water and let them dry.

Step 2: Preparing Other Ingredients

• Spring onions: Remove the roots, wash, and finely chop.
• Cheese: Cut into thin shreds for easier melting when grilled.
• Pork fat: Wash and drain. Bring a pot with about 1 litre of water to a boil, add 3 tablespoons of salt, and boil the pork fat for 10 minutes over medium heat. Once cooked, remove, pat dry, and chop into small pieces.

Step 3: Making the Scallion Oil

• Add the chopped pork fat to a pan and render over medium heat until crispy.
• Add the minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant.
• Once the crispy pork bits are ready, quickly add the chopped spring onions and stir for about 30 seconds before turning off the heat. Avoid overcooking to maintain the vibrant green colour of the onions.

Step 4: Grilling the Sea Urchins

• Crack 4 eggs into a bowl, add 4 tablespoons of unsweetened fresh milk, and whisk until combined.
• Prepare a charcoal grill with glowing embers.
• Place the prepared sea urchin shells onto the grill. Spoon the egg and milk mixture into each shell.
• Sprinkle with scallion oil and shredded cheese.
• Grill for 10–12 minutes until the sea urchin roe, eggs, and cheese turn golden and emit a mouth-watering aroma.

Step 5: Serving and Enjoying

• Use tongs to transfer the grilled sea urchins onto a plate and arrange them beautifully.
• The creamy sea urchin roe, combined with golden eggs, melted cheese, and crispy scallion oil, creates an incredibly enticing flavour.
• For the best experience, serve with spicy fish sauce or salt and lime dip.

Tips for the Best Grilled Sea Urchin

• Use medium heat: Ensure the charcoal is glowing but not burning too fiercely to allow even cooking.
• Alternative cooking methods: If you don’t have a charcoal grill, you can use an electric oven or gas stove, though charcoal grilling brings out the best flavour.
• Enhance the taste: Add a pinch of ground pepper for a mild spiciness.
• Skip the cheese: If you’re not a fan of cheese, you can omit it and use only eggs and scallion oil.

Grilled sea urchin with scallion oil is a simple yet irresistibly delicious dish. With easy-to-find ingredients and straightforward preparation, you can enjoy this delicacy at home or during a beach trip with friends and family. So why wait? Try making this dish today and savour the rich flavours of the ocean.

Some other delicious dishes in Phu Quoc

• Phu Quoc Stirred Noodles A Unique Culinary Experience You Can’t Miss
• Phu Quoc The Pearl Island of Vietnam
• Ham Ninh Crab A Must Try Seafood Delicacy in Phu Quoc