Description
Creamy Amish macaroni salad delights taste buds with its perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors. Crisp vegetables and smooth dressing create a nostalgic side dish that brings summer gatherings to life, offering you a delicious bite of classic comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (200 g) elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 3 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
Vegetables:
- ½ cup (75 g) diced celery
- ½ cup (75 g) diced onion
- ¼ cup (35 g) diced red bell pepper
- ¼ cup (35 g) diced green bell pepper
Dressing:
- 1 cup (240 g) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) smoked paprika (optional, for garnish)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water, generously season with salt, and bring to a vigorous boil.
- Gently introduce macaroni into the bubbling water, allowing it to cook until tender yet firm, following package guidance.
- Carefully drain the pasta in a colander, then immediately cascade cold water over the noodles to halt the cooking process and rapidly reduce temperature.
- Spread the cooled macaroni on a clean kitchen towel or wide surface, ensuring complete cooling and preventing clumping.
- Allow the pasta to reach room temperature, which will help it better absorb the upcoming dressing and prevent excessive moisture.
Notes
- Achieve perfectly cooked pasta by stirring occasionally during boiling to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Rinse macaroni with cold water immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process and prevent overcooking, which can make the pasta mushy.
- Choose elbow macaroni with ridges or curves to help the creamy dressing cling better, enhancing flavor in every bite.
- For a lighter version, swap full-fat mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or a combination of light mayo and Greek yogurt to reduce calories while maintaining creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg