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Another post about mentaiko? Yes. You are absolutely right! This time however, I have a shortcut to make it even easier for you to make my favorite Japanese pasta dish.
What is mentaiko?
Mentaiko is Alaska Pollack (cod family) Roe, spiced with powdered red pepper and surrounded by a thin, elastic membrane. Mentaiko is usually pink to dark red. (Source)
Mentaiko is salty, and can be used in a wide variety of ways – with rice, in soups, stews and in pasta dishes.
S&B “Instant” Cod Roe Spaghetti Sauce
You can find S&B Spicy Cod Roe Spaghetti Sauce at your local asian market. I’ve also seen these in Daiso’s little grocery section. If you don’t have access to an Asian market in your area, you can also purchase this from Amazon here.
I love how easy (and cheap!!) these packs are. All of the deliciousness without the hassle.
- Just boil your pasta, and add your sauce packet & garnish! It’s really that easy.
- Although the packet does say its intended use is for Spaghetti noodles, get creative with it! It is your food after all. I’ve used whatever noodles I had on hand, and I’ve never been disappointed – ramen, fettuccini, udon noodles. The pasta-bilities are endless!
- I also usually garnish this dish with Nori Komi Furikake, since seaweed goes so well with mentaiko.
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
Here’s how to cook S&B Instant Mentaiko Spaghetti:
For one serving:
- Cook 3 1/2 oz (100 g) of spaghetti, drain and place in a dish.
- Pour the contents of 1 Sauce Packet and toss with the spaghetti.
- Sprinkle the contents of 1 Topping Packet (Chives) and serve.
Honest Review/Last Thoughts:
- For price and convenience, you can’t beat this alternative. I think this is good to have on hand in your pantry because of how easy and quick it is to make.
- Taste wise, it’s great! Not too salty, and not spicy as all. I’m used to making a mentaiko sauce from scratch with cream, so this packet is obviously missing the creaminess that I’m used to, but still a great alternative. You can always experiment and try adding a bit of cream to your dish!
- Highly recommend giving this a try if you haven’t already. Enjoy!!
Rating: 5.5/10
Where to Buy S&B Instant Spicy Cod Roe (Mentaiko) Spaghetti Sauce
I found House Foods Instant Chinese Mabo Tofu Sauce at my local Asian grocery stores (Kukje Supermarket, H-Mart, Pacific Super, Manila Oriental) in the pantry section.
Online, you may purchase on:
- Amazon using this link here: https://amzn.to/3KKJHER
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