Vegan Pimento Macaroni Salad

User Reviews

5.0

51 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    20 mins

  • Cook Time

    20 mins

  • Additional Time

    1 hr

  • Total Time

    26 mins

  • Servings

    10 servings

  • Calories

    285 kcal

  • Course

    Side Dish

  • Cuisine

    American

Vegan Pimento Macaroni Salad

Imagine everything you love about macaroni salad but with a creamy vegan pimento cheese sauce made from whole foods. Easy prep and impossibly delicious! Vegan, soy-free, WFPB/oil-free, and gluten-free with your choice of pasta. Nut-free option included.

I Made This!

38 people made this

Save this

30 people saved this

Ingredients

Servings

For the sauce:

  • 1 ½ cups raw cashews (sub 1 ¼ cups raw sunflower seeds for nut-free)
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 4 ounces roasted red peppers, drained
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons hot sauce I used Crystal brand.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt I know this seems like a lot, but remember it's for an entire package of pasta!
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne

For the salad:

  • 16 ounces dry macaroni elbows (use whole-grain or gluten-free, if needed)
  • 1 cup chopped celery (about 5 large stalks)
  • 1 cup chopped yellow or orange bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
  • ¾ cup diced red onion (about 1 small onion)
  • 4 ounce jar of pimentos, drained very well and chopped
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. *If using a standard blender, first soak cashews in hot water for 1 to 2 hours (or soak seeds for 1 hour). Then, drain and follow recipe. In a high-speed blender combine all sauce ingredients. Gradually increase speed, then blend on high until completely smooth. Set sauce aside.
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Immediately drain in a colander and thoroughly rinse with cold running water, tossing/stirring pasta until it's cool. Drain well.
  3. Pour about half of the sauce into the pasta pot. Add the macaroni and stir to combine. Add more sauce, and continue to stir making sure all of the macaroni is completely coated. It will seem very saucy at this point but will thicken as it sits and after adding the veggies.
  4. Reserve a tablespoon or two of each of the veggies for garnish, if desired. Add remaining celery, bell pepper, onion, and pimentos to the pot. Stir to combine.
  5. Transfer to a serving bowl, and sprinkle reserved veggies/pimentos on top. Refrigerate for one hour (or longer) before serving.

Notes

  • Macaroni salad tastes great the next day, so it's a perfect make-ahead dish for parties. 
  • Serve cool.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 285kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 43g (14%) Protein 11g (22%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 575mg (24%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 369IU (7%) Vitamin C 41mg (46%) Calcium 32mg (3%) Iron 3.4mg (19%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 285 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 285kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 43g 14%
Protein 11g 22%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 575mg 24%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 369IU 7%
Vitamin C 41mg 46%
Calcium 32mg 3%
Iron 3.4mg 19%

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

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

51 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Pimento Cheese Pasta Salad

American
5.0 (81 reviews)

Pimento Pasta Salad

American
5.0 (24 reviews)

Creamy Vegan Macaroni Salad

American, Vegan
5.0 (6 reviews)

Vegan Macaroni Salad (no mayo!)

American
5.0 (6 reviews)

Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs

American
5.0 (9 reviews)

Pimento Cheese

American
5.0 (9 reviews)

Pimento Cheese Grits Casserole

American
0.0 (0 reviews)

Southern Hot Pimento Cheese

American
5.0 (3 reviews)

Pimento Cheese Pecan Pull Apart Bread

American
5.0 (6 reviews)

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad (Mac Salad)

American, Hawaiian
4.8 (498 reviews)

AMAZING VEGAN MACARONI AND CHEESE

American, Vegan
4.3 (9 reviews)

Chicken and Egg Macaroni Salad

American
0.0 (0 reviews)

Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe

American
0.0 (0 reviews)

Easy Chicken Macaroni Salad

Filipino, American
5.0 (147 reviews)

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

American
5.0 (36 reviews)