4.8 from 10 votes
Mentaiko Pasta
Mentaiko Pasta (明太子パスタ) is a modern Japanese pasta dish invented about 60 years ago in Tokyo. Delicious and easy to prepare, it's become one of the most popular pasta dishes in households around Japan. I skip the cream in favor of a briny emulsion of spicy cod roe, olive oil, and butter in my version.
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings:
2
servings
Calories:
678 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- 100 grams mentaiko spicy pollock roe
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 200 grams spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon butter cultured, unsalted
- nori (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a pot with about 5 cups of water to a boil.
- Cut the roe sacs of mentaiko in half, and then use your fingers or chopsticks to squeeze out the roe from the sac into a large bowl. Add the olive oil and black pepper and whisk the mixture together.
- Add a ½ teaspoon of salt to the boiling water, and then add the spaghetti. Use tongs to submerge the pasta as quickly as possible without breaking it (this will take a little while). Boil the pasta according to the package directions.
- When the pasta is cooked, transfer it directly from the pot into the bowl with the mentai sauce. Add the butter, and then use tongs to toss the pasta together. Use a ladle to add some of the starchy pasta water to the bowl to create a rich sauce.
- Garnish the Mentaiko Pasta with nori and serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
678kcal
(34%)
Carbohydrates
77g
(26%)
Protein
25g
(50%)
Fat
30g
(46%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
309mg
(103%)
Sodium
757mg
(32%)
Potassium
319mg
(7%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
629IU
(13%)
Calcium
161mg
(16%)
Iron
7mg
(39%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 678
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 678kcal | 34% |
| Carbohydrates | 77g | 26% |
| Protein | 25g | 50% |
| Fat | 30g | 46% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 309mg | 103% |
| Sodium | 757mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 319mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 629IU | 13% |
| Calcium | 161mg | 16% |
| Iron | 7mg | 39% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.