Steps

1. Bring 1L of water to a boil in a frying pan with 1 tbsp of salt. [Key Tip] Add more salt than usual for boiling pasta, considering that some saltiness will be lost when rinsing later.
   🕒 01:41
2. Add 100g of spaghetti, broken in half, to the boiling water. [Key Tip] Boil for longer than the package instructions to achieve the ideal texture for pasta salad.
   🕒 02:08
3. Thinly slice 1/8 of an onion as thinly as possible.
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4. Thinly slice 1/2 of a cucumber into rounds.
   🕒 02:54
5. In a bowl, mix water with 1/2 tsp of salt, then add the thinly sliced onion and cucumber to soak in the saltwater. [Key Tip] This step efficiently removes the onion's pungency and salts the cucumber simultaneously.
   🕒 03:25
6. Drain the liquid from 1 can (190g) of whole corn.
   🕒 03:52
7. Roughly chop the drained corn. [Key Tip] This helps the corn mix better with the spaghetti and enhances its sweetness and umami.
   🕒 04:11
8. Flake 4 imitation crab sticks.
   🕒 04:52
9. Drain the long-boiled spaghetti and rinse it under cold water to cool. [Key Tip] It's important to boil the spaghetti for a longer time with plenty of salt because it will be cooled in cold water.
   🕒 05:29
10. Thoroughly squeeze out any excess water from the spaghetti cooled in cold water.
    🕒 05:50
11. In a bowl, add the squeezed spaghetti and first mix with 4 tbsp of mayonnaise. This coats the pasta with oil, helping it absorb flavors evenly. [Key Tip] Mixing in mayonnaise first ensures the oil coats the pasta evenly, making it easier for flavors to meld.
    🕒 06:15
12. Add 2-3 tsp of sugar and 1 tbsp of vinegar and mix. [Key Tip] Vinegar adds a refreshing tang, while sugar enhances the richness.
    🕒 06:39
13. Add the water-squeezed onion and cucumber, flaked imitation crab, and chopped corn to the bowl and mix well.
    🕒 07:04
14. Taste and, if necessary, gradually add some of the corn can liquid to adjust the sauce's smoothness. [Key Tip] Corn can liquid contains umami and helps to smooth out the sauce when using a generous amount of mayonnaise.
    🕒 07:53
15. Finally, add 1 tsp of soy sauce to bring everything together and deepen the flavor. [Key Tip] Soy sauce adds depth and cohesiveness to the dish.
    🕒 08:21
16. Serve on a plate. [Key Tip] The flavors of the finished pasta salad meld and become even more delicious after resting for a day. Adding grated cheese will increase the umami and help the sauce cling better to the pasta.
    🕒 08:36