Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
In short: Soft elbow macaroni in a creamy, slightly sweet dressing with grated carrot and onion, the cool side that belongs on every Hawaiian plate lunch. It takes about 32 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 32 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 450 kcal
Macaroni salad is the side dish that comes with every Hawaiian plate lunch, scooped next to rice and a main such as kalua pork or grilled chicken. It is softer and creamier than most pasta salads. The macaroni is cooked past al dente so it soaks up the dressing, then mixed with mayonnaise, a little milk, vinegar, grated carrot and onion. Make it a few hours ahead, and stir in a splash of milk before serving.
Instructions
- Boil the macaroni in well-salted water for 2 to 3 minutes longer than the package says, until very soft.
- Drain without rinsing and toss with the vinegar while still warm. Spread out and cool for 15 minutes so the pasta absorbs the vinegar.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, milk, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper together.
- Fold the dressing, carrot, onion and celery into the macaroni until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Before serving, stir in a splash of milk to loosen the salad, adjust the salt and top with spring onions.
Tips
- Overcooking the macaroni is deliberate. Soft pasta absorbs the dressing and keeps the salad creamy as it chills.
- Keep the salad cold. Do not leave a mayonnaise-based salad in the sun or at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Questions and answers
Why is the pasta cooked so soft for macaroni salad?
Soft macaroni soaks up the dressing as it chills, which gives the salad its moist, creamy texture. Al dente pasta turns dry and firm in the fridge.
How long does macaroni salad keep?
Up to 3 days in the fridge in a covered container. It thickens as it sits, so stir in a little milk before serving.
What is served with Hawaiian macaroni salad?
A plate lunch pairs two scoops of white rice and a scoop of macaroni salad with a main such as kalua pork, teriyaki chicken or loco moco.
How long does it take to make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad?
About 32 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Hawaiian Macaroni Salad?
About 450 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 46 g of carbohydrates and 26 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 450 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 46 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
