Description
Hawaiian macaroni salad delivers a creamy, tangy twist on classic pasta sides from Pacific island cuisine. Local ingredients and simple preparation make this dish a crowd-pleasing summer staple you can easily enjoy at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups/473 ml elbow macaroni
- 1 ½ cups/355 ml mayonnaise
- 1 cup/236 ml shredded carrots
- ½ cup/118 ml crushed pineapple
- ½ cup/118 ml celery (finely chopped)
- ½ cup/118 ml apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup/59 ml whole milk
- ¼ cup/59 ml sweet onion (finely minced)
- 1 tbsp/15 ml sugar
- 1 tsp/5 ml salt
- ½ tsp/2.5 ml black pepper
Instructions
- Macaroni Preparation: Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until exceptionally tender, surpassing the traditional al dente texture to achieve the quintessential Hawaiian-style softness.
- Flavor Infusion: Drain pasta completely, then immediately drench with apple cider vinegar, allowing the hot noodles to absorb the tangy liquid rapidly, which will permeate and enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Cooling and Marination: Spread the vinegar-saturated macaroni on a broad surface, permitting it to cool and rest for 10-15 minutes, enabling complete absorption of the vinegar and developing the signature relaxed texture characteristic of authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad.
Notes
- Overcook Pasta Deliberately: Cook macaroni 2-3 minutes longer than package instructions to achieve the traditional Hawaiian-style soft, almost mushy texture that distinguishes this regional dish.
- Vinegar Absorption Technique: Splash apple cider vinegar immediately after draining hot pasta to help noodles absorb maximum flavor and create a tangy base that defines the salad’s unique profile.
- Room Temperature Resting: Allow pasta to cool completely at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, which helps noodles fully soak up dressing and prevents mayonnaise from becoming watery when mixed.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or vegan mayo for lighter versions, and use gluten-free pasta to accommodate different dietary restrictions while maintaining authentic Hawaiian flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg