Pimento Cheese Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
Pimento Cheese Pasta Salad
Description
Pimento Cheese Pasta Salad features cooked macaroni mixed with a dressing containing mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and flavorful additions such as dill pickle juice and pimento juice from the jar. Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika enhance the depth of flavor alongside fresh chives. Sharp white cheddar cheese and diced pimentos fold into the salad for texture and savory notes. This pasta salad is prepared by boiling the pasta, cooling it, then tossing it with the creamy dressing and mix-ins before chilling briefly to meld flavors.
The salad exhibits a creamy and tangy profile balanced with the cheddar's sharpness and the subtle heat of smoked paprika. The textures contrast nicely between tender pasta, crisp pimentos, and grated cheese, finished with fresh chive and microgreen garnishes for a slight herbal brightness.
It serves well as a picnic dish, a light lunch, or a side dish to grilled meats or sandwiches. Allowing the salad to chill for about 20 minutes before serving helps the flavors marry and the texture settle.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces macaroni cooked
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup yogurt plain, Greek
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons chive plus more for garnish, chopped, fresh
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon pimento juice from the jar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 (8 ounce) Pimentos drained and diced (reserve 1 tablespoon!, from jar
- 8 ounces White Cheddar Cheese freshly grated, sharp
- chive blossoms for garnish, fresh
- arugula microgreens for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, mix up the dressing. Whisk together the mayo, yogurt, mustard, chives, pickle juice, pimento juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and smoked paprika until creamy.
- Once the pasta is finished cooking, you can run it quickly under cool water to cool it down. I like to wait until the pasta is cool to the touch to continue.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss it well. Stir in the pimentos and white cheddar. Toss everything together well. I like to let this sit in the fridge and really come together for 20 minutes or so before serving,
- Garnish with the extra chives, the blossoms and microgreens if you wish. Serve immediately!
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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