Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe (2024)

Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe idea for a cold side dish. Contains apple cider vinegar and mayo with sour cream, mustard. Quick and popular dish.

Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe

This is a popular salad side dish to make for any meal. Goes well with a braai or barbecue with meat. Can be made with any pasta, but loved to be made with small shells of pasta. A great South African recipe to create next time you have a crowd or large family gathering. A No Bake stove top cook with only cooking the pasta until done. Mixing a source and chopping some bell peppers, onion, and celery to add the color and flavor. Savory side dish that can be kept for 4-5 days in the fridge sealed.

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad?

1. use pasta that is the right shape and size. Small pasta is best
2. do not overcook the pasta
3. season well
4. do not rinse or wash the pasta
5. Make the dressing ahead and mix while pasta is warm
6. if using vegetables blanch them so they are soft and not hard
7. cut up if using fresh bell peppers and onion and celery, in small pieces.
8. Make this pasta fresh and not days ahead.
9. Make a tasty dressing to mix with the pasta and ingredients
10. Add some Herbs

How do you keep macaroni salad moist?

It is all in the cooking of the pasta, if it is not cooked enough it will not absorb the dressing. Ending up hard. Overcooking the pasta will make it soft and soggy. Mixing the warm pasta with the dressing allows it to absorb the dressing. Also when stored cover the bowl or seal it then mix it up again before serving. Macaroni salad normally tastes best the day after as the dressing get well absorbed in the pasta. That is why you need to mix the dressing with warm pasta.

What goes well with macaroni salad?

Macaroni salad is a versatile salad. It goes well with…

1. meats on a braai or barbecue
2. Chicken breasts and braaied pieces
3. Any meal that includes a salad

Ingredients

1. macaroni, cooked and drained
2. red pepper diced
3. onion diced
4. celery stalks, diced
5. sour cream
6. mayonnaise
7. apple cider vinegar
8. mustard
9. salt
10. sugar
11. dried herbs
12. pepper

For the amounts and full instruction for this easy Macaroni salad see the recipe attached. Its printable and downloadable. Even works online in cook mode without your screen going dark. YAY!

How To

Cook the macaroni in advance in salted water until al dente. Drain the water off. Then place the macaroni, chopped peppers, onions and celery in a bowl. Mix the dressing. Adding them to the warm macaroni as this will absorb the dressing.

Make salad dressing, mix all the necessary ingredients.

The ingredients for the dressing are made up of sour cream, mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and salt and pepper with some dried herbs like parsley or basil.

Add salad dressing to the salad bowl. Mix with the warm pasta as this will absorb the flavors and the creamy dressing. Pasta that absorbs the dressing will taste great the next day as well.

Mix everything thoroughly and check if you need to add a little more mayonnaise or sour cream if necessary. Taste the salad in case you need more spice or salt. The mixture should be well mixed and not drown is the dressing.

Place the bowl of salad in the refrigerator for half an hour to an hour, covering it with a lid. Stir the salad again before serving.

The best easy macaroni pasta side dish to serve with any meal, braai or barbecue for a crowd or large family gatherings. An additional chutney can be added to enhance the flavors.

Enjoy this summer time salad to go with any meal, whether camping or out doors or at home with family. Keeps well chilled covered and sealed for at least 3-4 days. Just mix it up to incorporate the dressing again.

Recommendations

(click the highlighted heading for the recipe)

Another pasta salad to create for a tasty side dish —-> Fresh Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe and Simple Pasta Salad and Dressing

Get more cold side dishes recipe to create to go with meals or eat them on their own.—-> Cold Side Dish

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