Japanese Potato Salad

Japanese potato salad is a delightful and unique twist on the classic potato salad, with a creamier texture and a slightly different flavor profile. It often includes additional ingredients like cucumbers, carrots, and sometimes ham or other protein sources. Here’s a basic recipe for making Japanese potato salad:

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks

1/4 cup finely diced carrots

1/4 cup finely diced cucumber

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

2 slices of ham or cooked bacon, chopped (optional)

1/4 cup mayonnaise (Japanese Kewpie mayo is commonly used)

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

Salt and pepper, to taste

Chopped fresh parsley or chives, for garnish

Instructions:

Cook the Potatoes: a. Boil the potato chunks in salted water until they are fork-tender. b. Drain the potatoes and let them cool to room temperature.

Prepare the Vegetables: a. In a small pot of boiling water, blanch the diced carrots for about 1-2 minutes until slightly softened. Drain and let them cool. b. Place the diced cucumber in a strainer and sprinkle a pinch of salt over them. Let them sit for a few minutes, then gently squeeze out any excess moisture.

Mix the Dressing: a. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, rice vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper together until well combined.

Assemble the Salad: a. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled potatoes, blanched carrots, squeezed cucumber, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and ham or bacon (if using).

Add the Dressing: a. Pour the mayo dressing over the potato mixture. b. Gently fold and mix everything together until the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly.

Adjust Seasoning: a. Taste the potato salad and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or sugar if needed.

Chill and Serve: a. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the potato salad for at least 1-2 hours, allowing the flavors to meld.

Garnish and Serve: a. Before serving, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or chives over the potato salad for a burst of color and freshness.

Enjoy your Japanese potato salad! It’s great as a side dish, for picnics, or as a tasty addition to bento boxes.

Japanese potato salad has a creamy and slightly tangy flavor that pairs well with a variety of dishes. Feel free to customize it with your favorite vegetables and proteins.