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mentaiko pasta in a bowl with chopsticks.

Mentaiko Pasta (Pasta with Cod Roe)

This mentaiko pasta is SO creamy and delicious! Seasoned with cod roe, this wafu-style dish is a perfect Japanese fusion meal that comes together in just minutes!
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Japanese
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Calories: 247kcal
Author: Emily

Equipment

  • Medium-sized pot
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Whisk

Ingredients

  • 3 oz Spaghetti or other long pasta
  • 1 tablespoon Mentaiko seasoned *see notes for alternatives*
  • 2 tablespoon Salted butter
  • ¼ cup Heavy Cream
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Soy Sauce

Toppings/Garnishes

  • Shiso Leaf optional
  • Shredded Nori optional
  • Scallions optional

Instructions

  • Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions.
  • Drain and set aside a small amount of pasta water, just in case.
  • Add the pasta back the dry pot and add butter.
  • Combine until melted.
  • In a medium sized mixing bowl, add heavy cream, mentaiko, and soy sauce.
  • Gently whisk to combine.
  • Add the cooked and buttered pasta to the mixing bowl.
  • Toss to combine thoroughly.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • If desired, slice scallions, nori, or shiso (ooba) for garnish.
  • Serve pasta warm and spoon any leftover sauce on top of the pasta.

Notes

  • You can probably find mentaiko at many Asian markets. It is often called pollack roe or salted cod roe. Alternatively, if you can find a jar of tarama (from the Greek taramasalata dip), that is very similar.
  • Salt with caution. Be sure to taste before salting and add salt slowly. If using salted butter and soy sauce, the dish is already rather salty. Be careful not to over salt.
  • This recipe can easy be made gluten free by using your favorite gluten free pasta or noodles and using tamari or coconut aminos instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 764mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 539IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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