Macaroni Salad
User Reviews
5
Macaroni Salad
Description
This Macaroni Salad starts with properly cooked macaroni noodles, which are rinsed with cold water and tossed with olive oil to prevent sticking. The noodles are mixed with finely diced sweet gherkins, red bell pepper, celery, red onion, and chopped hard-boiled eggs, each adding texture and mild pungency to the dish.
The dressing combines mayonnaise and sour cream for creaminess with sweet pickle juice and red wine vinegar for acidity and subtle sweetness. Granulated sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and optional crushed red pepper provide seasoning that complements the fresh ingredients. When tossed together, the dressing lightly coats the pasta and vegetables maintaining a refreshing flavor and firm bite.
Chilling the macaroni salad for at least an hour helps the flavors blend and the texture settle, producing a classic picnic or side dish salad. It can accompany a variety of main dishes or be served alone as a light meal option.
Substitutions like using white or apple cider vinegar instead of red wine vinegar can be made without disrupting the balance of flavors.
Ingredients
- 8 oz macaroni noodles 227g, dry
- ½ cup sweet gherkins usually 4-6 sweet gherkins for me (80g, finely diced
- ¾ cup red bell pepper about ½ pepper (100g, finely diced
- ⅓ cup celery about 1-2 stalks (55g, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup red onion 45g, finely diced
- 2 large egg hard boiled, finely diced
Macaroni Salad Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise I use olive oil mayo (175g)
- ¼ cup sour cream (70g)
- 2 Tablespoons pickle juice sweet
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
- Prepare macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water, then drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil and gently stir so the noodles don't stick together as they sit.
- In a large bowl, combine macaroni noodles, sweet pickles, red pepper, celery, red onion, and eggs. Stir until well-combined. Set aside and prepare your dressing.
For the dressing
- To prepare your macaroni salad dressing, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, sweet pickle juice, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper (if using) in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until ingredients are well-combined.
- Pour dressing over your macaroni salad ingredients and toss until well-combined.
- For best flavor, cover bowl and allow macaroni salad to chill for at least one hour. Stir once more before serving and enjoy!
Notes
- If red wine vinegar is unavailable, white wine or apple cider vinegar can be used as alternatives in the dressing.
- Drizzling the cooked macaroni with a little olive oil after rinsing helps prevent the noodles from sticking together while chilling.
- Allow the salad to chill at least 1 hour before serving to develop the flavors fully.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 408 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cup | |
| Calories | 408kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 36g | 12% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 79mg | 26% |
| Sodium | 463mg | 19% |
| Potassium | 210mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 884IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 25mg | 28% |
| Calcium | 44mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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