Wednesday, June 24, 2026
HomeBakingJapanese Potato Salad - The Nation Prepare dinner

Japanese Potato Salad – The Nation Prepare dinner


Rework your conventional potato salad into this distinctive Japanese Potato Salad full of an attention-grabbing mixture of substances that’s surprisingly scrumptious!

A Enjoyable Twist on a Easy Aspect Dish

I’m actually excited to share my tackle Japanese Potato Salad (potesera). It has a very completely different texture and taste than the standard American-style potato salad. This model is creamy, barely candy, and full of a mixture of textures that work surprisingly properly collectively. My son lately obtained again from a visit to Japan so I believed it might be enjoyable to consider a Japanese meals to share that may be a little bit completely different from what individuals usually consider as “Japanese”, like sushi. You’d usually discover it as a house cooked facet dish (similar to right here) with Japanese fried rooster (once more, like right here!) or in a Japanese Pub or in pre-made bento bins on the grocery retailer. It can be used as a sandwich filling!

A serving bowl with a large amount of Japanese Potato Salad.

Continuously Requested Questions: 

What’s Japanese Potato Salad?

Japanese Potato Salad is a creamy potato based mostly facet dish that’s softer and extra mashed in texture in comparison with conventional American potato salad. It’s generally made with potatoes, greens, ham, and a tangy Kewpie mayonnaise dressing. All of the flavors and textures work properly collectively and is extra of a light-weight facet dish than different variations.

I don’t have a number of the substances you could have listed, what can I change out?

So I did lots of analysis on this potato salad. Actually, I obtained a little bit exhausted studying ALL the takes on Japanese potato salad from Japanese Individuals, Japanese of us themselves and Individuals recreating this traditional they loved in Japan and folks have very robust opinions on it as you possibly can think about. You’ll be able to actually go down a rabbit gap!

In any case, I did learn lots of threads on Reddit the place of us talked about swapping substances and the way it now not tasted like what they remembered. So I might say, watch out with swapping out substances in case you are desirous to get this near what a Japanese Potato Salad ought to style like. Not that it’s going to style unhealthy, however you received’t get the identical style we’re going for right here.

What makes Japanese Potato Salad completely different?

The feel and dressing are the most important variations. Japanese Potato Salad is often softer and creamier, and the dressing makes use of Kewpie mayonnaise and seasoned rice vinegar for a barely sweeter, tangier taste.

Additionally, I might say, preserve an open thoughts. This isn’t American (clearly) so you possibly can’t anticipate the identical American flavors. Nonetheless, if in case you have ever had an Olivier Salad (Russian potato salad) then you’ll most likely take pleasure in this. The Japanese Potato salad was created as a tackle that conventional Russian potato salad. It does have an exquisite mild brightness and freshness to it. In Japan, everybody has their very own method of creating this potato salad similar to we do right here so I think about a number of of us will remark about how they loved it in Japan or maybe how their Japanese partner makes it and the way completely different it’s to this. That’s all good as a result of we do the identical factor right here, proper? Each household has their very own model.

Can I make this forward of time?

Sure. In truth, it tastes even higher after chilling for a number of hours because the flavors have extra time to mix collectively.

What’s Japanese mayo?

Japanese mayonnaise is made with solely egg yolks, making it a creamier consistency than common American model mayonnaise. In the event you can’t discover it, sub with common mayonnaise (perhaps one thing a little bit sweeter like Miracle Whip). However, really, the perfect taste goes to be the Kewpie model mayo (affiliate hyperlink). I consider they really make it right here within the States now as properly. See my ingredient picture under so you realize what to search for. Some grocery shops put it on a really backside or very high shelf however it’s often offered in a bag.

Can I add different issues to this Potato Salad?

Completely. Bacon, diced apples, or further greens are all frequent additions. Some individuals additionally like including cooked rooster or serving it as a sandwich filling.

Methods to retailer leftover Japanese Potato Salad?

Preserve within the fridge for as much as 4 days, don’t freeze.

A big white serving bowl of Japanese Potato Salad.

Components Wanted: (See Recipe Card Under For The Full Recipe)

  • child gold potatoes– Child gold potatoes work rather well as a result of they keep creamy and buttery after boiling. Russet potatoes can be used, however they need to be peeled and minimize into chunks earlier than cooking.
  • thinly sliced cucumber– I used an English cucumber on this; Persian cucumbers additionally work properly. You don’t must peel them because the peels are very comfortable and edible. Salting the cucumbers helps pull out extra moisture so the salad doesn’t develop into watery after chilling.
  • high quality sea salt
  • diced carrots– Canned carrots work finest right here as a result of they’re already comfortable. I wouldn’t use recent carrots except they had been par boiled to melt them up. I suppose you can grate the carrots. You simply don’t need to chew down on a tough carrot. 
  • frozen corn – I do know y’all are going to take a look at these substances and suppose none of it really works collectively. We’re used to seeing potato salad “our method”, however I’m telling you, the Japanese are onto one thing right here with these completely different substances. It simply works!
  • hard-boiled eggs
  • ham steak – sure, ham! Potato salad is served as a facet dish in Japan, similar to right here, however truthfully, this could be a complete meal for me due to the meat within the potato salad.
  • pink onion – if you happen to discover the flavour of pink onion too robust, you possibly can soak the minimize onions in some ice water. it is going to take that stronger “chew” out of the onion.
  • Japanese (Kewpie) mayonnaise– that is the key ingredient to the dressing. The Kewpie mayonnaise (affiliate hyperlink) is important to this tasting like a Japanese Potato Salad so I might not counsel swapping it out for normal mayo. You actually may if you happen to can’t discover the Kewpie however even in my smaller space, I can discover it at Walmart and Kroger. It has develop into very mainstream and common.
  • seasoned rice wine vinegar– once more, that is one other vital ingredient that you actually need to search out and use to get the proper taste. I simply don’t suppose a plain white vinegar would provide the identical taste.
  • floor mustard– as you possibly can guess, that is one other particular ingredient that’s important for getting the suitable taste for this dish. Ready mustard goes to be too tangy right here. I’ll simply say that the extra substances you begin switching out, the much less it will style like the unique.
  • granulated sugar – Japanese potato salad is a shock of flavors. You get tanginess with a contact of sweetness.
Baby gold potatoes, cucumber, salt, diced carrots, corn, hard-boiled eggs, ham steak, red onion, Japanese mayonnaise, seasoned rice wine vinegar, ground mustard, granulated sugar, black pepper, and salt.

How To Make Japanese Potato Salad

Boil the potatoes and put together the cucumbers

Place the potatoes in a big pot and canopy with chilly water. Carry to a boil, and boil for 15-20 minutes till very tender. Drain the potatoes properly and put aside. Place the cucumbers right into a small bowl and toss with the salt; let sit for a minimum of 5 minutes.

Potatoes draining in a colander and a bowl of cucumbers with salt.

Make the dressing

Whereas the cucumbers sit, whisk collectively the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, sugar, and black pepper in a big bowl to make the dressing.

A bowl of mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, sugar, and black pepper being mixed.

Gently smash the potatoes

Crush the potatoes with a potato masher; you may make it clean or depart it chunky, relying in your choice. I like to go away it a little bit chunky however I might make it smoother if you happen to plan to serve this in a sandwich.

A potato masher mashing the potatoes in a bowl.

Mix all of the substances

Add the potatoes to the bowl with the dressing and blend to mix. Place the cucumbers in paper towels and squeeze out the surplus liquid. Add them to the bowl. Add within the carrots, corn, eggs, ham, and onion. Stir to mix properly.

Japanese Potato Salad being mixed together.

Enable to relax

Cowl and place within the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to relax, then serve.

Looking closely at a bowl of Japanese Potato Salad.

Craving Extra Recipes? 

A very full bowl of Japanese Potato Salad.

Forestall your display screen from going darkish

For the Japanese dressing:

  • Place the 1 1/2 kilos child gold potatoes in a big pot and canopy with chilly water. Carry to a boil, and boil for 15-20 minutes till very tender.

  • Drain the potatoes properly and put aside.

  • Place the 4 ounces thinly sliced English cucumber right into a small bowl and toss with the 1/2 teaspoon high quality sea salt; let sit for a minimum of 5 minutes.

  • Whereas the cucumbers sit, whisk collectively the 1 cup Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, 1 Tablespoon seasoned rice wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon floor mustard, 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a big bowl to make the dressing.

  • Crush the potatoes with a potato masher; you may make it clean or depart it chunky, relying in your choice.

  • Add the potatoes to the bowl with the dressing and blend to mix.

  • Place the cucumbers in paper towels and squeeze out the surplus liquid. Add them to the bowl.

  • Place the 4 ounce container diced carrots, drained properly, 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed, 2 hard-boiled eggs, small diced, 4 ounces ham steak, small diced, and 1/4 cup finely chopped pink onion. Stir to mix properly.

  • Place within the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to relax, and serve.

  • Please seek advice from my FAQ’s (Continuously Requested Questions) and ingredient record above for different substitutions or for the solutions to the most typical questions.
  • In the event you want extra assist discovering the substances otherwise you aren’t positive what the packaging appears like or what precisely I used, I shared a picture of the substances above within the recipe submit. 

Course: Aspect Dish

Delicacies: Japanese

Energy: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 15g | Sodium: 356mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g

“The Nation Prepare dinner” will not be a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary info shared is an estimate. If calorie depend and different dietary values are vital to you, we suggest operating the substances by means of whichever on-line dietary calculator you favor. Energy and different dietary values can fluctuate fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers had been used.

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments