Meaning
鱈子 (たらこ, Tarako) is Cod roe, a Japanese food (fish eggs).
What is Cod roe?
Tarako is cod roe, often from Alaska pollock, still surrounded by a thin, elastic membrane. Tarako sometimes is grilled. It is served in a number of ways: plain (usually for breakfast), as a filling for onigiri , and as a pasta sauce (usually with nori ). Mentaiko (明太子 ) is tarako that has been spiced with powdered red pepper. Usually, it is pink to dark red, and is made in a variety of flavors and colors and is available at airports and main train stations. It is usually eaten with onigiri, but is also enjoyed by itself with sake . A common variety is karashi-mentaiko (辛子明太子). Recently in Japan, mentaiko pasta has become very common and popular. Mentaiko is mixed with butter or mayonnaise and used as a sauce for spaghetti. Thin strips of nori are often sprinkled on top.