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Japanese potato salad in a white bowl with a shiso leaf — creamy mashed potato with carrot, cucumber, and ham

Japanese Potato Salad

Creamy Japanese-style potato salad — partly-mashed potato with thinly sliced carrot and cucumber and a little ham, dressed in tangy Kewpie mayonnaise. The classic deli-style side dish, easy to make at home.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients
  

  • 3 potatoes (medium) peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1/3 carrot thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cucumber thinly sliced
  • 2-3 slices ham (or bacon) cut into pieces
  • 3-4 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise (Kewpie) to taste
  • salt to taste, plus a little for the cucumber
  • pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Peel and cut the potatoes into even chunks. Thinly slice the carrot and cucumber. Salt the cucumber, let it sit a few minutes, then squeeze out the water.
  2. Boil the potatoes until tender, about 12-15 minutes, adding the carrot for the last few minutes. Drain well.
  3. Prepare the ham: cut into pieces and add as-is, or lightly fry to deepen the flavor. (No ham? Bacon works as a substitute — fry it until browned.)
  4. Mash the potatoes while hot, leaving some lumps. Let cool slightly.
  5. Add the carrot, squeezed cucumber, and ham. Mix in the Kewpie mayonnaise, salt, and pepper until creamy. Taste, adjust, and serve.