Today I’m guest posting at An Italian Cooking in the Midwest while the author Paola (or Pola) is having a wonderful adventure in Southeast Asia. As the name of her blog suggests, she is an Italian who lives in the US Midwest and shares a variety of Italian dishes including ones that we’re not too familiar in America. Since I love Italian food, I am really glad to have learned a lot from visiting Paola’s blog. I think one of the links that ties Paola and I together is that we both love Japanese and Italian food.
Now you might wonder what Japanese Potato Salad is and how it’s different from American potato salad. The answers are at An Italian Cooking in the Midwest. Oh before you leave, please remember to come back this Friday to check out Potato Salad Pork Roll using the leftover Potato Salad.
Ingredients:
- 2 Russet potatoes
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 egg
- 2 ½ inch carrot
- ¼ cup corns
- 2 inch English cucumbers (The cucumber in this photo is about 3 inches, but you just need bout 2 inches)
- 2 black forest ham slices
- ¾ cup (12 Tbsp.) Japanese mayonnaise
- Salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Peel potato skins and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces. They should be roughly about the same size so that they’ll be done cooking around be the same. Put potatoes in a large pot and add water until it covers all the potatoes.
- Boil potatoes with high heat. After water boils, lower heat to medium and cook until a skewer can goes through the potato smoothly. Drain the water from pot and put the potato back on the stove again.
- On the stove, evaporate water and moisture of the potatoes over medium-high heat (for less than 1 minute). Shift the pot in circular motion so the potatoes wont’ get burnt. When you see there no liquid in the pan, remove from heat.
- Mash the potatoes but leave some small chunks for texture. Sprinkle salt and transfer it into a big bowl and let it cool on the kitchen counter.
- Meanwhile prepare a boiled egg. Remove the shell and mash the egg with a fork in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Cut carrots into quarter (or half) and then slice it thinly. Put them in a microwave-safe container and cover it with water. Microwave for a few minutes until a skewer goes smoothly through the carrot (don’t overcook). Drain water and cool down.
- Peel the cucumbers (leave some skin on to create stripe pattern) and cut into quarter. Then slice it thinly.
- Dice the sliced hams into small size.
- Prepare and boil corn (canned corn kernels works as well).
- Add hams and veggies into the mashed potato bowl. Grind some pepper over and mix well.
- Add mayonnaise.
- Add boiled eggs and mix a bit but don’t over do it. Let it cool and keep in the fridge till you are ready to serve.
Enjoy!
Hi, I'm Nami. Thanks for stopping by Just One Cookbook. You can read little bit more about me 
{ 93 comments… read them below or add one }
Lovely potato salad… I am gearing up for Spring with this (without ham though
)and I am eyeing your bowl too 
Amazing, I guess most of the food bloggers think alike, I made one of these 4 days ago but not the Japanese version but nearly the same ingredients. I havent tried something like this before, its like a semi mashed potato salad. Love it
Great recipe, great guest post! I love this potato salad!
Yummy! I always love it when they serve it as a side at Japanese restaurants, but I’ve never thought of making the Japanese version at home. Gotta make this!
Yum! I am “flying” over to Paola’s site to read your recipe!!
And now I can’t wait for Friday’s post! Looks delicious!
BTW, I am not sure I told you… the ice cream was a HIT! We all loved it!
It was the hardest thing I have ever photographed though… the light kept reflecting on it! I had to take like 1000 pictures and only 2 or 3 came out fine!!! LOL Thanks so much for the delicious recipe!!! 
1000?! Maybe you meant 100…
I also find it very difficult to photo shoot ice cream or soup! I’m so glad you liked the green tea ice cream! Yay!
This potato salad looks amazing. Im heading over to check out your guest post
LOVE that pretty little bowl!
Congratulations for the guest post and the award!
So this is the famous Japanese potato salad! I have already seen it, for example in Shinya Shokudo and cookery books, but it was always much “poorer” and certainly didn’t look as beautiful as yours! Your salad looks like a complete meal. I don’t know how you manages to take a photo of something as basic as the potato salad in such a lovely way!
I love the Japanese mayonnaise, it has such a “lively” taste compared to most European mayonnaise brands. Maybe only good French brands are equally good, but the taste is completely different. I also love the touch the bottle has and its practical side when squeezing.
It was a wonderful idea to post this salad. I will certainly make it soon.
By the way, the pork rolls would be similar to the extraordinary pork rolls that you posted some time ago and that I did dozens of times??? I can’t wait to see them!
I’m so happy you are enjoying those pork rolls!
The potato salad one will be my #1 favorite for sure. =)
You just remind me I have so long did not prepare this, my version was without ham, next time I would like to add some.
Almost every time you present a Japanese dish that I am unfamiliar with, definitely interesting. The salad looks quite different with the vege’s and ham, its almost a meal in itself. Is that Japanese ham???:)
Hi Mr. Three-Cookies! I used black forest ham, which is our most fav ham..
I’m glad to hear you find it interesting! 
Love Japanese potato salad! Looks like the ones u get at the restaurant…will definitely try this thanks
Hi Fern! I hope you will like it!
Hi Nami, I just made your potato salad today…yum yum! Will be having it for dinner tonight
Great recipe!
http://tofoodwithluv.blogspot.com/2011/09/japanese-potato-salad.html
Thank you for your feedback and I’m so happy you liked the potato salad. Enjoy the dinner!!!
I’ve never had potato salad like this but I love the idea! Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite foods so I’m sure I would love this! Thanks
And thanks for linking it to my salad blog hop! Love this recipe
Wow, this really looks amazing!
looks yummy
Thank you Lin!
Ah I remember Japanese Mayo! Sometimes I can buy it here but it is quite expensive.
This potato salad looks so wonderful and fresh. I wonder how Japanese mayo differs from the American kind?
Japanese mayonnaise is made with egg yolks instead of whole eggs, and apple cider (or rice) vinegar instead of distilled vinegar. Over all it is creamier in both color and texture.
I get to have ham and corn in potato salad?! I want some today
My just loves this potato salad and I really like your photos. I have to learn to take better photos. Keep it up..
I love Japanese potato salad. Thank you for the recipe! I can’t wait to try.
Not creative? You’ve got to be kidding me. Beautiful, inventive and delicious as usual Ms. Nami
I love this potato salad and the colour is so pretty! I always have some potatoes in my pantry, so I’ll just pick some other ingredients from the market to make this salad.
Thanks for sharing, Nami
Congratulations on your award – you truly deserve it!
I find it so interesting that while the main ingredients are very similar to a German potato salad, the execution is so different, giving it its very own distinct character. Once I manage to get my hands on a bottle of Kewpie (hehe) mayonnaise, I will try out your recipe.
Tobias
congrats Nami on the guest post..this recipe sounds very creamy and delicious! I love all the veggies that you used in this salad, I love it and will try it soon!! Great pics!:)
You made my favourite – Japanese potato salad! I used to order this a lot when I go to Jap restaurant!
Oh I love this, Nami. There used to be a Yaohan shopping center nearby and they sell this, on its own or as filling for sliced bread. Definitely my thing.
Can’t wait to check out the guest post! I love your twist on potato salad-yum!
Such a teaser…I’ll be back on Friday! Off to check out your guest post
A lovely potato salad…almot like a one pot meal! Love the colorful bowl too!
Nami: I like this version of Japanese Potato Salad and your photography is always so pristine and beautiful – makes me hungry visiting your blog. btw – just caught your guest post over at Food Lovers Website, great interview!
This salad looks delicious Nami!!! I am heading over to read your guest post….
Beautiful pictures as always….
Looks great! Such a beautiful salad! I also LOVE the bowl it’s served in
Your picture is super as always ; )
You know some reasons Jack is not that crazy about Japanese style potato salad, but both Kyle and Douglas love it! For me, anything potato nowadays is too heavy for my stomach… Hmmmm…. getting old….
we also put ham into our “filipino” potato salad (if there’s such a thing hehe) but other than that Japanese Potato salad has other interesting addtitions like corn? Wow it’s interesting and I could imagine the taste when all the flavors are fused in. Japanese Food is definitely one of the cuisines I love best.
Have a great day Nami. Im glad to be here!
Malou
Nice and tasty potato salad! My mom would put ham in the potato salad as well! And apple and pickle =) I will post the recipe later since you’ve got me craving for some potato salad!
Ps: off topic Nami do you know any good restaurants in SF or surroundings you can recommend? My boss is going to SF for the first time and I’m making a little to do and eat list for him.
YOUR PICTURES BLOW MY MIND. and that potato salad looks amazing! It’s almost a hybrid between egg and potato salad!
Who doesn’t love a good potato salad! This looks wonderful, Nami. I’ve never had Japanese mayo though! How is it different from the American version? Is it hard to find in stores?
Japanese mayonnaise is made with egg yolks instead of whole eggs, and apple cider (or rice) vinegar instead of distilled vinegar. Over all it is creamier in both color and texture. You can find it in Japanese or Asian supermarket.
This looks good, Nami…! I think I even have tried Japanese potato salad before, but without the egg. I think it’s a wonderful addition and I am convinced it would add an extra creamier flavour to the salad. Thanks for sharing another great recipe
!
Congrats on the guest post and the award, Nami! Well done! We’ve tried Japanese potato salad before when Ryan’s Japanese boss served it on their Christmas party! We love it!
I just had this as part of a donburi set for yesterday’s lunch! They gave too little salad – I finished it in a fork-ful
I was just trying to figure out what I should make with a few lonely potatoes on my counter! Thanks!
Love this! I must admit I absolutley suck when it comes to making potato salad, but i think I can make this. And you have the prettiest serving dishes ever!!!
Very creamy and unusual!
Hey there my friend! I feel like I’m always apologizing for missing your posts! I don’t remember the last time I cooked, up to my ears with “busy”. Once you’ve had Japanese potato salad, there’s not going back, it’s just simply, fab-u-lous! Fantastic DOF too!
Nami, I have to confess that I have never had Japanese potato salad! This looks delicious though, the flavor profile seems similar to a Russian salad, very common in Northern Italy, so I know I’m going to love it. The pictures are fabulous as always
Oh gosh, another super summer treat! I wish it were warm and we were going on a picnic tomorrow instead of heading to school. Boo. This weekend should be a nice one, so we can pretend it’s still summer with your delicious Japanese potato salad. LOVE it!
Amazing potato salad and I LOVE the step-by-step pictures!
Nami, I love Japanese Potato Salad, especially with the hard boiled egg! There’s a place around us that makes their udon and they serve a complimentary potato salad that is so good. I’m not sure why an udon place serves it, but since it’s so good, I don’t question it. Yours looks great!!
This sounds great and your pictures, as always, are beautiful. One question, what is the difference between Japanese mayo and other kinds? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it.
Interesting to see you mention that japanese potato salad is made with mashed potatoes!! When I made this sometime ago, it was for chopped potatoes as is normal to most people http://debskitchencreations.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-potato-salad-6-8-as-side-dish.html However, I definitely like the sound of mashing the potatoes, my mother used to made it that way but just mixed with salad cread instead of mayo! LOL
Looks very good as usual Nami. I’m attracted to the different colours in this potato salad just as much as the beautiful bowl that holds it!
What a fabulous potato salad Nami and I LOVE your serving bowl!
Mandy
Have a happy day.
This looks great! I’ve never added these ingredients to my potato salad, but I like all of them. I bet I’d love them together.
I love potato salads
The japanese ones are so different though- I usually have them at buffets, and they taste so good I fill myself up so much with them! tehehe….I love how they’re sorta of sweet (especially with the corn)- I should try making this at home some time!
I’m sure the taste is hard to resist
, but just for the sake of making healthier choices, I would probably use olive oil instead of mayo and some home-cooked and chilled pork instead of ham (watch out for those nitrates!).
I’ve never met a potato salad I didn’t like
Nami this looks delicious! I finally figured out how to use my Reader so I’m subscribed so I won’t miss anything from ya! ♥
Love this potato salad and the step by step photos. It makes so much easier to visualize the process of the dish. Beautiful photos, Thanks for sharing!
Looks absolutely delicious, Nami! I love all of the vibrant colors in the dish. Great recipe.
Hope you’re having a great day so far.
Congrats on your blog award, Nami!
Your potato salad looks so fantastic and the recipe is really very easy! Fantastic guest post!
I made egg with Japanese mayonnaise (I always buy the same Japanese mayonnaise that you used in the pic, that’s the best one I found after trying others) very often as all of us love it and whenever there’s any gatherings or fun day out with my closest cousin and her family, my nephew and nieces would ask for it every time w/o fail!
We’d tried cucumbers, carrots (some times raw) and corn kernels dipped in mayo too but all separately tho. We love them so much, esp my gals. Now I’m gonna try mixing everything together! I’m sure we’ll love this too!
I’m so looking forward to your Potato Salad Pork Rolls!
Have a wonderful day!
great potato salad, perfect for labor day!! congrast on guest post!
Very beautifully photographed potato salad Nami..Looks so fresh & healthy. I want some! Off to check out your guest post now.
Oh I love your version of a potato salad – definitely an interesting take! And I loved your guest post – Paola’s blog was new to me, so thanks so much for sharing =)
This looks amazing. The pork rolls I am coming back to see for sure.
potato salad looks wonderful I use regular mayonnaise haven’t used Japanese mayonnaise
Your bowl of potato salad is so tempting and I can’t take my eye off from it!
ive always loved this potato salad as a side to any bento box! actually anything tastes good with those jap mayo
well almost everything!
Thanks Nami..It was really delicious!!
GREAT!! 
Hi Steffie! Glad to hear you liked it! Thanks for the feedback!
I was waiting for your potato salad Nami
it is amazing..love all the flavors in it..have to try it soon..I am sure it will be amazing
Looks great-And I just so happen to have 2 potatoes today
such a pretty potato salad. Love all the flavors you put it. Make I’ll make some for my family since they can eat eggs and ham.
thanks for sharing Nami!
This potato salad looks great and is definitely putting me in the mood for it on this holiday weekend! My kids love ham, so I will definitely try adding it to mine. I always love seeing everyone’s personal twist on potato salad. There are so many types and styles! Hope you are doing well and having a great weekend.
so similar to our homemade cuban potato salad, sans the cucumber! love it.
My favorite potato salad, yours looks very colorful and nice.
I love how colorful this salad is, it looks so fresh and yummy! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe, I love potato salads and this recipe I can’t wait to try
What a great salad! … And congrats on your guest post! Hugs!
Hi Nami: thank you so much for doing this for me. I loved this post and I will try to make some Japanese potato salad ASAP!!
Paola, thank you for inviting me to your blog! It was fun babysitting your blog.
Nami, This potato salad sounds wonderful. It’s a lot lighter than the one’s I’m use to. I love all of the different ingredients!
Hey Nami,
The recipe is so simple and one wonderful thing about this recipe is that all the ingredients are easily available.
Nami…and the photographs too are too good.
Lovely potato salad Nami!!I love the use of cucumbers and carrots in there.Need to try out Japanese mayo sometime
Can anyone tell me the name of the right picture?
please and thank you
Hi Daisy! Thank you for asking – I edited so that the name is in the content.
It’s Potato Salad Pork Roll: http://justonecookbook.com/blog/recipes/potato-salad-pork-roll/
Thanks again!
I just made this potato salad and I am so very happy that I found your blog! I have been getting a potato salad in the pre-made bentos I buy occasionally from a local store and absolutely fell in love with the potato salad. This recipe come soooooo SOOOOOO close. It is so yummy! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Melissa! Thank you for trying this recipe. I’m glad my recipe is close to your favorite Japanese potato salad! Hope you can adjust to make it to a perfect recipe.
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