Description
Hawaiian macaroni salad brings comfort from Pacific island kitchens with creamy dressing and tender pasta. Ingredients blend simple flavors that welcome summer gatherings where friends gather around delicious sides.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml/16 fl oz) mayonnaise (preferably Duke’s)
- 2 cups (480 ml/16 fl oz) half-and-half
- 1 pound (454 g/16 oz) elbow macaroni
- ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) grated carrots
- 2 large celery ribs, chopped into ¼-inch pieces
- 5 green onions, white and green parts sliced thin
- 1 ½ tbsps (22.5 ml/0.75 fl oz) grated yellow onion
- 1 tbsp (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) dark brown sugar
- 2 tsps pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Dressing Creation: Whisk half-and-half, mayonnaise, grated onion, dark brown sugar, salt, and pepper into a silky blend. Refrigerate to intensify flavor profiles.
- Pasta Preparation: Cook macaroni 5 minutes longer than standard instructions for ultra-tender texture. Drain completely and return to pot, drizzling apple cider vinegar. Allow pasta to absorb liquid at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Pour half the prepared dressing over macaroni, stirring thoroughly. Let rest 20 minutes to maximize taste absorption. Fold in remaining dressing, green onions, celery, and carrots. Gently combine ingredients and season to taste.
- Resting and Chilling: Allow salad to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, enabling flavor harmonization. Transfer to serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for minimum 2 hours to develop authentic Hawaiian-style depth and complexity.
Notes
- Maximize Pasta Texture: Cook macaroni 5 minutes longer than package instructions to achieve ultra-tender, plump pasta that absorbs dressing beautifully.
- Vinegar Infusion Technique: Drizzle hot macaroni with apple cider vinegar and rest at room temperature to help pasta develop deep, tangy flavor notes.
- Strategic Dressing Application: Add dressing in stages, allowing pasta to gradually absorb flavors and create a rich, creamy consistency.
- Chill for Authentic Flavor: Refrigerate salad for at least 2 hours before serving to allow ingredients to meld and develop a truly authentic Hawaiian-style taste profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg