Description
Summer picnics find their perfect companion in classic macaroni salad, a creamy comfort dish that blends crisp vegetables with tangy dressing. Crowd-pleasing pasta promises nostalgia and satisfaction for friends gathering around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Pasta and Vegetables:
- 2 cups (473 ml) elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup (150 g) diced celery
- 1/2 cup (75 g) diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup (75 g) diced red onion
- 1/2 cup (60 g) shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup (15 g) chopped parsley
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) dill pickle relish (optional)
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon (12.5 g) sugar
Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) black pepper
Instructions
- Submerge macaroni in generously salted boiling water, cooking until tender yet firm. Immediately drain and shock with cold water to halt further cooking and preserve ideal pasta texture.
- While pasta cools, meticulously slice celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and carrots into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure balanced flavor distribution.
- Craft a creamy dressing by vigorously whisking mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and black pepper until achieving a silky, well-integrated consistency.
- Transfer cooled pasta into the dressing-filled bowl, gently folding in the chopped vegetables and freshly minced parsley to guarantee even coating and harmonious flavor profile.
- Seal the salad securely and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, enabling ingredients to mingle and develop deeper, more complex taste dimensions.
- Before serving, give the salad a final gentle stir, adjusting seasoning if needed. Present chilled, optionally garnishing with additional parsley for visual appeal and fresh herbaceous notes.
Notes
- Rinse pasta thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure a clean, fresh taste in the salad.
- Use room temperature vegetables for better flavor absorption and more even coating with dressing.
- Adjust mayo quantity based on desired creaminess, allowing for personal preference in texture.
- Consider gluten-free pasta alternatives like chickpea or rice macaroni for dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Side Dish, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg