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Cajun Pasta Salad
4.7 from 78 votes

Cajun Pasta Salad

This Cajun Pasta Salad features small pasta shapes combined with fresh diced vegetables and a robust dressing spiced with Cajun seasoning. The mayonnaise-based dressing includes mustard, horseradish, hot sauce, and dill pickle juice, contributing a layered tangy and slightly spicy flavor. The salad offers a mix of crunchy textures and a hearty feel, suitable as a side or a light meal.

Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 264 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Salad
  • 1 pound pasta elbows, shells or rotini or other small pasta
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 scallions
  • 1 red pepper
  • 4 celery ribs
Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoon mustard Creole, Dijon or spicy brown
  • 2 cloves garlic grated
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning, see note
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon horseradish prepared
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dill pickle juice
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • salt optional *see note, up to 2 teaspoon

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Put a large pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil. Cook the pasta as directed by the package instructions.
  2. While the pasta cooks clean and dice the celery and red pepper. Separate the scallion whites from the greens and dice both. Set the green parts aside to garnish the salad.
  3. After the pasta is done drain it in a colander. Run cold water through it to cool it off quickly. Put the drained and cooled pasta in a large salad bowl. Toss it with the olive oil.
  4. Add the diced celery, red pepper and white part of the scallions to the salad bowl. Stir to mix.
  5. In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, mustard, grated garlic, Cajun seasoning, lemon juice, horseradish, hot sauce, dill pickle juice, paprika and pepper. Stir to whisk it all together.
  6. Taste a small amount of the dressing and determine if it needs salt or not. This will depend on how much salt your Cajun seasoning includes, if any. Add salt if necessary and stir the dressing again.
  7. Pour the dressing over the pasta and stir to coat all the pasta. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  8. Serve garnished with a sprinkle of paprika and the reserved green scallion tops.
  9. This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It will thicken a bit over time. If desired you can stir in a few tablespoons of water before serving.

Notes

  • Check salt content in your Cajun seasoning before adding extra salt to the dressing.
  • Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper for more heat if desired.
  • Substitute vinegar for dill pickle juice if you do not have it on hand.
  • Cherry tomatoes, dill pickles, or hard boiled eggs can be included to add variety and flavor.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 264kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 26g (9%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 13g (76%) Cholesterol 8mg (3%) Sodium 718mg (30%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 2g (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 264

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 264kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 26g 9%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 13g 76%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 718mg 30%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 2g 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.