Japanese Pasta Salad (Spaghetti Salad)

Method7 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Cook all 100 g dry spaghetti, broken in half, in sufficient salted boiling water according to its packet directions until al dente. While it cooks, prepare the cucumber and onion in steps 3 and 4.

   Uses 100 g dry spaghetti, broken in half · Water for cooking spaghetti, as needed; discarded · Salt for the spaghetti cooking water, as needed

2. 2

   Step 2: Drain the cooked spaghetti from step 1, discard its cooking water, and toss it with all 2 tsp vinegar. Spread or loosen it and leave to cool while you prepare the other ingredients.

   Uses complete batch of cooked spaghetti · 2 tsp vinegar

3. 3

   Step 3: Sprinkle the pinch of cucumber (40 g) salt (1 pinch) over all 40 g thinly sliced cucumber. Leave for 5 minutes to soften, then squeeze out and discard the moisture. This can run while the pasta cooks.

   Soften salted cucumber · 5 minUses 40 g cucumber, thinly sliced · 1 pinch salt for the cucumber

4. 4

   Step 4: Soak all 20 g thinly sliced onion in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes, then squeeze and drain, discarding the water. You can skip soaking if the onion is sweet and has little bite; keep the prepared onion for the salad.

   Soak the onion, if needed · 5 minUses 20 g onion, thinly sliced · A bowl of cold water for soaking onion; discarded

5. 5

   Step 5: Mix all 3 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise and 2 tsp Dijon mustard with the pinch of dressing salt and pepper in a bowl. If you prefer a looser dressing, stir in about 1 tbsp milk, more or less to suit.

   Uses 3 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise · 2 tsp Dijon mustard · A pinch of salt and pepper for the dressing · Optional milk to adjust the dressing, about 1 tbsp more or less

6. 6

   Step 6: Add the cooled vinegar-tossed spaghetti from step 2, all 25 g ready ham squares, the squeezed cucumber from step 3 and the prepared onion from step 4 to all the dressing from step 5. Mix gently to coat every strand.

   Uses complete cooled vinegar-tossed spaghetti batch · 25 g ready leg ham, cut into 1 cm squares · complete squeezed salted cucumber · complete prepared onion · complete prepared mayonnaise-mustard dressing

   
7. 7

   Step 7: If using the two lettuce leaves, arrange them on a serving plate. Mound the complete pasta salad from step 6 over them and serve as two salad portions.

   Uses 2 lettuce leaves, optional for serving · complete dressed pasta salad