This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details
Prep 5 minutesmins
Cook 10 minutesmins
Total 15 minutesmins
Indulge in rich, creamy, and deeply umami uni pasta in just 15 minutes! This easy and delicious Japanese fusion pasta recipe will elevate your next dinner at home.
Uni pasta or sea urchin pasta is a creamy, savory, indulgent pasta that will instantly elevate your next dinner. This Japanese fusion pasta is made with a delicate and creamy sauce featuring sea urchin, heavy cream, and sake in under 15 minutes!
Turn your home into an upscale restaurant with this sea urchin pasta. This uni recipe is perfect for a quick and easy special date night dinner or as the main show-stopping dish for your next dinner party.
Uni pasta is made with al-dente thin spaghetti noodles that are coated in a creamy pasta sauce made with sea urchin, heavy cream, sake, garlic, and shallots. You can find uni in the refrigerated aisle at your local Japanese grocery store.
Ingredients
You can find all the ingredients for this uni pasta recipe at your local Japanese grocery store. Full measurements and links to all the ingredients I used are listed in the recipe card below.
Thin Spaghetti: is ideal for absorbing the rich creamy, uni sauce.
Uni: or sea urchin has a rich and complex flavor that is salty, slightly sweet, and has a silky, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Heavy Cream: is the rich and creamy base of the uni pasta sauce.
Unsalted Butter: adds a rich silky, flavor and creates a rich silky consistency for the uni sauce.
Garlic and Shallots: are the main savory, aromatic ingredients for the pasta sauce.
Salt and Pepper: seasons the sauce.
Sake: adds umami and natural sweetness. My go-to sake for cooking is Sho Chiku Bai, a regular drinking sake that doesn’t contain added salt.
Garnishes: lemon, uni, tobiko roe, nori strips, chives.
Substitutions and Additions
Substitutions
Pasta: any type of pasta or noodles can be an alternative such as linguine, angel hair, udon, or ramen noodles.
Olive oil: a good alternative to butter.
Half and Half: an alternative to heavy cream.
Mirin: is a sweeter alternative to sake.
White wine: another alternative to sake.
Additions
Soy Sauce: adds another layer of salty umami flavor.
Shiso leaves: add brightness and contrast.
Red pepper flakes: for added spicy heat.
How to Make Uni Pasta
Here are the step-by-step instructions for this uni pasta recipe.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until it is al dente according to the package instructions. Save 1/4 cup of pasta water.
Using a blender or food processor, combine the uni and heavy cream.
Heat the butter in a pan over medium heat until melted. Then add the garlic and shallots and cook until fragrant.
Next mix in salt, pepper and sake. Cook until the sake reduces, half stirring frequently.
Turn off the heat and add the uni cream mixture and mix to combine. Then combine the sauce with the pasta. Add 2-4 tablespoons of pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
Serve the uni pasta with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and garnish with fresh uni, roe, nori, and chives. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use high-quality uni. Uni is the star of the recipe. Be sure to use fresh, high-quality uni for the best flavor.
Remember to reserve pasta water. The pasta water is important for thinning out the sauce to achieve a silky creamy consistency in the uni pasta sauce. Mix in the pasta water one tablespoon at a time.
Combine the uni without heat. Uni is very delicate and can overheat quickly. Mixing the uni with the stove turned off will prevent it from overcooking.
Taste and adjust: Before serving, taste and adjust the sauce with salt, pepper, or pasta water if needed.
Storage Instructions
This uni pasta is best served immediately. You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat: microwave the uni spaghetti covered in 20 second increments stirring in between until warm. Or gently reheat in a pan with a splash of water or cream to loosen the sauce over low heat.
Pairing Suggestions
This uni pasta can be served for lunch or dinner on its own or with the following pairing suggestions.
Yes, uni is typically served raw. In this uni pasta, the uni is only slightly warmed with the warm pasta and sauce to preserve its delicate flavor and texture. I recommend buying fresh uni from a trusted source before making this recipe.
What does uni taste like?
Uni has a very unique, slightly sweet, briny, rich, and complex flavor. It has a silky, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture that is comparable to egg yolks.
What kind of pasta should I use for uni pasta?
Thin spaghetti, spaghetti, linguine, or tagliolini are the most popular options. They are all good for holding onto the sauce without overwhelming it.
Indulge in rich, creamy, and deeply umami uni pasta in just 15 minutes! This easy and delicious Japanese fusion pasta recipe will elevate your next dinner at home.
Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until it is al dente, or according to the package instructions. Save 1/4 cup of pasta water.
Blend the uni and heavy cream. Using a blender or food processor, combine the uni and heavy cream until smooth.
Cook the aromatics. Heat the butter in a large pan over medium heat until melted. Then add the garlic and shallots and cook until fragrant, stirring frequently, about 1 minute.
Add salt, pepper, and sake. Next, add salt, pepper, and sake, and mix until combined. Cook until the sake has reduced by half while stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
Add the uni mixture and pasta. Turn off the heat and add the uni cream mixture and mix to combine. Then add the pasta and toss until combined. Add 2-4 tablespoons of pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
Serve. Serve the uni pasta, squeeze a wedge of lemon juice, and garnish with fresh uni, roe, nori, and chives. Enjoy!
Rate & Review What did you think of this recipe?