たらこパスタ/spicy cod roe pasta

Hello everyone! It's been so long since I posted last time. Long story short, I had to put down my blog for a while due to a major move out from Chicago back to Asia! I have to admit it's no easy feat to move with a baby – sleepless nights, night feedings/crying rebound, adjustments to new surroundings and people...but definitely fun to be close with family and friends again. What's more, we are now in another foodie city and I am real excited to try all the new cuisines and snacks I cannot try in America!

To start off this new page of life, I am introducing this Asian popular dish (a long overdue post that many of my friends have requested) mentaiko pasta (sorry about the typo on my photo!) This is one of my quick recipes for a lazy dinner without compromising your health. For one instant pack of mentaiko pasta sauce, you have to pay for at least US$3.99, while a box of fresh mentaiko is good for more than 10 packs. 

Prepare time: 5 minutes       Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients (2 person):

Thin Spaghetti 1/2 cup 

Mentaiko (明太子）1-2 sticks

1/4 onion, chopped

1 soft boiled egg

2 button mushrooms

1 tbsp mayonnaise 

1/4 cup of cream/alfredo sauce

pinch of salt and pepper

a dash of scallions, optional

Steps:

1. Take out the frozen mentaiko and thaw to room temperature. Carefully cut open the roe sac and scoop the roe out using a spoon. Set aside. Chop up the onion, green onions and mushrooms.
2. Boil water for pasta and add a pinch of salt. Cook the spaghetti until al dante. 
3. Preheat pan in medium heat with olive oil.  Sauté onions and mushrooms until golden, add mentaiko then mayo.  Immediately add alfredo sauce and combine the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Boil egg with 1/4 water, leave about 1/3 of the egg above water level. Bring it to a boil for 5 minutes. Let it rest for 1-2 minutes. Take the egg out and rinse under cold water, peel off the egg shells. Cut open the egg but not all the way.
5. Add pasta into sauce, mix well. When ready serve warm and top with scallions and soft boiled egg.