Description
Hawaiian mac salad delivers creamy comfort straight from Pacific island kitchens. Cool noodles with tangy mayo and sweet vegetables create a perfect summer side dish you’ll crave at every backyard barbecue.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) elbow macaroni noodles
- 1 1/8 cups (270 milliliters) mayonnaise
Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon salt
Liquid:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) milk
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta by bringing a generously salted water pot to a rolling boil, then cook the elbow macaroni approximately 2 minutes beyond the typical al dente point, ensuring a softer, more tender texture.
- Drain the pasta thoroughly and rinse with cold water, allowing the noodles to cool completely and prevent further cooking.
- Create a creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise, milk, and a pinch of salt in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and uniform.
- Gently incorporate the cooled macaroni into the prepared dressing, stirring carefully to ensure each pasta piece is evenly and luxuriously coated.
- Enhance the salad’s depth by delicately folding in optional ingredients like shredded carrots or finely chopped onions, distributing them throughout the mixture.
- Seal the salad in a container and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour, though allowing it to rest overnight will develop a more robust and harmonious flavor profile.
- Before serving, give the macaroni salad a gentle stir and adjust the consistency if needed by introducing a small amount of additional mayonnaise or milk to restore its creamy brilliance.
Notes
- Overcook the pasta intentionally for authentic Hawaiian-style mac salad, creating a soft, almost mushy texture that absorbs dressing perfectly.
- Use full-fat mayonnaise for richness and classic creamy consistency, avoiding light or reduced-fat versions that compromise traditional flavor.
- Consider adding grated apple or celery for extra crunch and subtle sweetness, providing delightful textural contrast to the creamy base.
- Prepare the salad a day ahead to allow flavors to meld and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles that truly capture Hawaiian comfort food essence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg