Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
This classic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is a creamy, tangy side dish featuring tender elbow pasta tossed with a mayonnaise-based dressing, crisp vegetables, and a touch of apple cider vinegar for zest. Perfectly chilled and easy to prepare, it’s a beloved addition to any Hawaiian plate lunch or summer picnic.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- Kosher salt, to taste
- 1/2 lb. elbow pasta
- 1 c. mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 medium onion, grated (about 1/2 c.)
- 2 medium carrots, shredded (about 1/2 c.)
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped (about 1/2 c.)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously season it with kosher salt. Add the elbow pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is very al dente—about 2 minutes longer than the package instructions recommend. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
- Prepare the Dressing and Combine: While the pasta cooks, whisk together in a large bowl the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, ground black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the drained pasta, grated onion, shredded carrots, and chopped celery into the dressing until well combined.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly.
- Serve: Remove the salad from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving to enhance flavor and texture.
Notes
- For best results, use high-quality mayonnaise and fresh vegetables.
- Allowing the salad to chill overnight improves flavor development.
- This salad pairs beautifully with traditional Hawaiian dishes like loco moco or kalua pork.
- You can substitute apple cider vinegar with white vinegar if needed, but it slightly changes the flavor profile.
- Adjust salt to taste, especially if using salted mayonnaise.
Keywords: Hawaiian macaroni salad, creamy pasta salad, tropical side dish, picnic salad, elbow pasta salad, traditional Hawaiian recipe
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/hawaiian-macaroni-salad-recipe/
