Cream Cheese Dip with Spicy Pollock Roe (Mentai Cheese Dip)

Cream Cheese Dips will not be Japanese dishes, however I’m posting Cream Cheese Dip with Spicy Pollock Roe (Mentai Cheese Dip) as a result of the flavour comes from spicy pollock roe, which is a well-liked Japanese ingredient.

Like most dips, Cream Cheese Dip with Spicy Pollock Roe could be very simple to make and is stuffed with flavour from the mentaiko (spicy pollock roe). The slight spiciness is kind of addictive.

About Mentaiko

Spicy pollock roe is known as ‘mentaiko’ (明太子) or ‘karashi mentaiko’ (辛子明太子) in Japanese. The phrase ‘karashi’ (辛子) means chilli on this context. I launched mentaiko in my recipe Mentaiko Pasta, however I didn’t go into a lot element about it within the put up.

Mentaiko originated in Korea and was developed by marinating salted pollock roe, ‘tarako’ (たらこ) in Japanese, in kimchi-style seasoning.

Mentaiko first arrived in Fukuoka, within the northern a part of Japan’s Kyūshū Island, which is near the Korean Peninsula. The Japanese modified the kimchi flavour to swimsuit the Japanese palate, leading to simply the best stage of spiciness.

Even right this moment, Fukuoka – notably the Hakata district – is most well-known for producing prime quality mentaiko.

You should purchase frozen mentaiko in packs at Japanese or Korean grocery shops. Every pack usually comprises 2-3 sacs – 3 small sacs or 2 giant sacs. You would possibly even discover 5 sacs in a pack. It isn’t an inexpensive ingredient, however I believe you’ll be able to indulge your self on an important day.

Mentaiko is scrumptious eaten by itself and is a superb accompaniment to drinks, notably Japanese sake. Merely minimize the sac into small, bite-size discs. It additionally goes very properly with rice and is a well-liked filling for Onigiri. As talked about earlier, I’ve already launched Mentaiko Pasta. When mentaiko is blended with mayonnaise, it turns into an umami bomb.

Warning: Don’t confuse this with tarako. They give the impression of being very comparable, nevertheless it isn’t spicy—simply salty (and equally tasty).

What’s in my Cream Cheese Dip with Spicy Pollock Roe (Mentai Cheese Dip)

• Mentaiko
• Cream cheese at room temperature
• Milk
• Lemon juice
• Salt & pepper
• Finely chopped inexperienced onions, as garnish (optionally available, not within the picture).

The sac of mentaiko is chewy, so you must take away it. One of the best ways to do that is to separate the sac lengthwise and gently scrape the roe out with a knife. Please see the images in my Mentaiko Pasta put up exhibiting the right way to take away the roe from the sac.

Find out how to Make Cream Cheese Dip with Spicy Pollock Roe (Mentai Cheese Dip)

1. Combine the cream cheese in a bowl utilizing a small spatula till it turns into a thick paste.
2. Add the milk and lemon juice and blend properly.
3. Add the mentaiko to the bowl and blend totally, making certain the roe is evenly distributed.
4. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and blend.
5. Switch the dip to a serving bowl and prime with chopped inexperienced onions if utilizing.

It’s a lot simpler to make this dip utilizing softened cream cheese. Leaving a block of cream cheese on the kitchen bench for 1-2 hours will soften it sufficiently. Should you don’t have time, you’ll be able to microwave on low energy in 5-10 second intervals. Reducing the block into small items may also assist it soften sooner.

Mentai Cheese Dip has well-balanced spiciness, saltiness, and richness. The mentaiko gives umami and saltiness, whereas the cream cheese softens the spiciness and provides the dip a clean texture.

It isn’t solely an ideal dip to serve with crackers and vegetable sticks however can be used as an expansion on bread. I’ve not tried this but, however I believe it could be an amazing sauce on grilled fish or meat.

It retains as much as 2-3 days within the fridge.

Yumiko

Cream Cheese Dip with Spicy Pollock Roe (Mentai Cheese Dip)

Cream Cheese Dip with Spicy Pollock Roe could be very simple to make and filled with flavour from the mentaiko (spicy pollock roe). It has well-balanced spiciness, saltiness, and richness, with the mentaiko offering umami and saltiness.

Prep time doesn’t embody the time to melt the cream cheese.

Recipe Sort:

Appetiser, Snack

Delicacies:

Japanese

Key phrase:

Genuine dip recipe, Cheese Dip, cream cheese recipe

Serves: 150 ml / 5.1 fl.oz

Writer: Yumiko

Elements (tbsp=15ml, cup=250ml)

• 100g / 3.5oz
  cream cheese
  (soften at room temperature, word 1)
• 2
  tsp
  milk
• 80g / 2.8oz
  mentaiko
  , sac eliminated (word 2)
• 2
  tsp
  lemon juice
• Salt & pepper
• Finely chopped spring onions as garnish
  (optionally available)

Directions

1. Combine the cream cheese in a bowl till it turns into a thick paste.

2. Add the milk and lemon juice to the bowl and blend properly.

3. Add the mentaiko to the bowl and blend properly, making certain the roe is evenly distributed by the cream cheese.

4. Combine in a pinch of salt and pepper.

5. Switch the Mentai Cream Cheese to a serving bowl and sprinkle with chopped spring onions, if utilizing. Serve with crackers (word 3).

Recipe Notes

1. You’ll want to soften the cream cheese, in any other case it is going to be very troublesome to combine with the opposite components.

Depart it on the kitchen bench for 1-2 hours.

Should you don’t have time, microwave it on low energy in 5-10 second intervals. Reducing the block into small items may also assist it soften sooner.

2. Please confer with my put up Mentaiko Pasta, which reveals the right way to take away the roe from the sac.

3. Along with some crackers, greens sticks go very properly with Mentai Cheese Dip. It can be used as an expansion on bread. I’ve not tried this but, however it could additionally make an amazing sauce to placed on grilled meat or fish.

4. It retains as much as 2-3 days within the fridge.

5. Diet per serving, shared with 8 folks.

serving: 25g energy: 51kcal fats: 3.9g (6%) saturated fats: 2.4g (12%) trans fats: 0g polyunsaturated fats: 0.2g monounsaturated fats: 1.1g ldl cholesterol: 39mg (13%) sodium: 314mg (13%) carbohydrates: 1.3g (0%) dietary fibre: 0g (0%) sugar: 1.0g protein: 3.1g vitamin a: 0.2mcg (4%) calcium: 13mg (8%) iron: 0.2mg (6%) potassium: 36mg (1%)