This Instant Pot Japanese Potato Salad recipe is a keeper! Using the electric

pressure cooker, the potatoes cook up tender and smooth, but in a fraction of time. A worthy side to enjoy with BBQ, bento, or picnic lunch.

Instant Pot Potato Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large egg (50 g w/o shell)
• 3 large russet potatoes (3 potatoes = 1 ½ lb = 680 g)
• 2 ½ inch carrot (2 1/2" = 7cm)
• 2 Persian/Japanese cucumbers
• ½ tsp kosher/sea salt (I use Diamond Crystal; Use half for table salt) (for dehydrating carrots and cucumber)
• 2 slices ham (I use black forest ham)
• 1/4 cup corn kernels (1/4 cup = 4 Tbsp)
• ½ tsp kosher/sea salt (I use Diamond Crystal; Use half for table salt)
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tsp rice vinegar
• 4-6 Tbsp Japanese mayonnaise

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Gather all the ingredients.
   

2. Place a stainless steel steamer basket inside your pressure cooker and add 1 cup of water.

3. In a small saucepan, place an egg and cover it with water. Bring it to boil with medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 12 minutes.

4. When the egg is done, immediately discard the boiling water and cool the egg with cold water. Once the egg has cooled, remove the eggshell and mash the boiled egg in a small bowl with a fork.

5. While the egg is cooking, peel the potato skins and cut into 1 ½ inch (4 cm) pieces. They should be roughly about the same size so that they’ll be cooked at an equal rate. Remove starch by soaking the potatoes or if you don’t have any wait time, add them directly to the pressure cooker. By soaking the cut potatoes in water, it removes the starch and helps retain its colors.

6. Place the potatoes in the steamer basket inside the pressure cooker. Close lid and pressure cook at high pressure for 5 minutes. Make sure to turn the sealing vent to the “sealed” position. For Instant Pot, click “Steam” and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.

7. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare other ingredients. Cut the sliced hams into ¼ inch cubes.

8. Peel the carrot skin and slice using a mandolin slicer. Mandolin slicer will help you achieve very thin slices of carrot, however, if you don’t have one simply slice the carrot into thin slices. Optionally, cook the carrot for 2-3 minutes until tender.

9. Peel the cucumber skin leaving some parts unpeeled. Use a mandolin to slice the cucumber or slice thinly with a knife.

10. Sprinkle ½ tsp. kosher salt over carrot and cucumber and massages with hands. Wait for 5 minutes to let them dehydrate.

11. Quickly rinse under water, gently squeeze out water and set aside.

12. Once cooking completes, you can let the pressure valve release naturally (takes about 15-20 minutes) or manually release the pressure. Insert a wooden skewer in the center of a potato. If it goes through smoothly then the potatoes are ready. If the skewer gets stuck in the potato, cook for a bit longer. When the potatoes are done, take out the steam basket and transfer the potatoes to a bowl (I used suribachi – Japanese mortar here). Mash potatoes with a masher or a large fork (I used surikogi – Japanese pestle here – my mom’s method). Don’t crush the potatoes completely, leave some small chunks for texture.

13. Season the mashed potato with ½ tsp. kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

14. Add 2 tsp. rice vinegar and mix all together. Set aside to let cool.

15. Add eggs, cucumbers, carrots, and ham to the mashed potato and mix all together.

16. Add 4 Tbsp. mayonnaise and combine well. Taste the potato salad first before adding more mayonnaise or salt.

17. Mix all the ingredients together. Serve at room temperature or cover the potato salad with plastic and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. The potato salad can be refrigerated up to 1-2 days.

RECIPE NOTES

Cucumber: If you can’t find Japanese or Persian cucumbers, cut an English cucumber in half lengthwise and remove seeds with a spoon (because it's too watery for salad).

Japanese Mayonnaise: If you can’t find Japanese mayonnaise, follow this recipe using regular mayonnaise.

 

Equipment you will need:

• Pressure Cooker (6 QT Instant Pot)

https://www.justonecookbook.com/pressure-cooker-potato-salad/