Caviar

A true wealth of choice is available at the Astrakhan fish market called Selenskie Isady. Instead of fresh catches, there is a wide range of smoked, cured and salted fish from metre-long sterlet with its predatory heads to bigheaded carp that simply exudes fat, in addition to catfish, common carp and, of course, sturgeon. Granular sturgeon caviar is sold in jars and is rather expensive. The cheaper option is pike caviar, but there are many other varieties worth a try. The most respected local treats are cured roach and the lightly salted, fat and tender herring.