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The Ripper’s Pasta With Uni and Caviar

This sophisticated sea urchin and caviar pasta is the ultimate choice for a luxurious, high-protein dinner. Inspired by coastal flavours, the dish features a decadent sauce made from blended sea urchin roe and unsalted butter, which coats delicate strands of spaghetti in a golden, velvety emulsion. The natural sweetness of the roe is perfectly balanced by the sharp fragrance of fresh chives and a hint of Espelette pepper.

Designed for those who appreciate fine seafood, this elegant recipe is ideal for an intimate dinner party or a special weekend treat. It combines the umami richness of Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano with the briny pop of premium Osetra caviar. Simple to prepare but complex in flavour, it delivers a restaurant-quality experience in the comfort of your own kitchen.

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Ingredients for The Ripper’s Pasta With Uni and Caviar

  • 80g (110g) sea urchin roe (uni)

  • 110g unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • Fine sea salt and Espelette pepper, to taste

  • 110g thin spaghetti

  • 2 teaspoons very finely chopped chives

  • 1 tablespoon finely grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese

  • Freshly ground white pepper to taste

  • 1/2 lemon, seeds removed

  • 30g Iranian osetra caviar or best available (optional)

Separate out 4 of the best-looking pieces of sea urchin roe to be used as garnish, and place the rest of the roe in the pitcher of a blender or bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Purée the sea urchin on medium speed for 1 minute, and pass it through a fine sieve, into a bowl. Return the purée to the blender or food processor, using a spatula to make sure you don’t leave any of it behind. Add the butter to the blender or food processor and purée until the mixture is smooth.

Bring a medium pot of heavily-salted water to a boil. While the water heats, get set up to finish the dish and plate it: Put 2 tablespoons of water into a small, heavy bottomed pot. Have your sea urchin butter, salt, pepper and a whisk close at hand. Place the chives in a mixing bowl large enough to comfortably hold all of the spaghetti (you’ll be tossing the spaghetti and sauce in this bowl).

Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti and cook it until just al dente.

While the spaghetti is cooking, finish the sea urchin sauce. Bring the 2 tablespoons water to boil in the small pot—this will happen very quickly—then gently whisk in the sea urchin butter. Taste the mixture and season it with salt and Esplette pepper. If the spaghetti is still cooking, cover the sauce to keep it warm.

Once the spaghetti is done, drain it. Add the warm sea urchin sauce and the cheese to the bowl with the chives; mix gently and season with salt and white pepper to taste, then, using tongs, gently toss the pasta into the sauce, making sure it is evenly coated.

Divide the pasta into four serving bowls. Drizzle a tablespoon of the extra sauce from the pasta around each mound. Squeeze lemon juice over each serving, and place one reserved lobe of sea urchin roe and 1 1/2 teaspoons of caviar on top of each mound of pasta. Serve immediately.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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