It's officially May and this means summer is literally right around the corner! And that also means it's almost time for weekly barbecues, taking a dip in the pool, sleeping under the stars, snacking on s'mores and ice cream...and just so many other great things. Isn't summer the best?
Lately, Jacob and I have been busy prepping our backyard for the warm weather. Here in St. George, the weather warms up fast! Just this past week we were experiencing 90 degree highs! What?! So we decided it would be good for us to kick it into high gear and get that yard work done before the weather gets too unbearably hot.
This is our first summer as homeowners (we feel like real adults now!), so naturally we had to take a trip over to Home Depot on Saturday to get all of the necessary yard tools. It's really crazy how many things you have to buy when you become a first-time home owner.
We spent the entire morning weeding, and leveling out our big patch of dirt so we can finally lay some sod on it, and weeding some more. It was really exciting, but I feel like the yard is finally starting to come together.
Once we get around to laying the sod on our dirt patch, we are hoping to install an awning and purchase some patio furniture and grill so we can enjoy ourselves some summer BBQs. Speaking of which, today's recipe, Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, is very fitting for those upcoming BBQs (make sure to try my Berry Caprese Salad too!)
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is a popular salad served up in Hawaii. If you order a lunch plate from one of the local restaurants, chances are they'll serve up some mac salad to go along with some grilled meat and rice. So so so good!
You may have noticed that there are tons of variations of this salad floating around on the web, which often include ham, pineapple, and all kinds of other additions. But, the true authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is straightforward and simple. Like really simple. Macaroni, carrots, onions, celery and mayo is all it takes to make this salad.
I'll admit, when I was making this salad, I had some doubts about it. Like, how could something so simple actually be good? But, my doubts were completely dissolved after that first bite! This salad is unbelieveably good. There's something about the combination of mayo, apple cider vinegar and crunchy veggies with the macaroni that just works so well in this salad. Seriously though, with this salad nothing beats simple.
I can guarantee you that this salad will be a huge hit at any of your summer BBQs or luaus!
FAQs
Hawaiian macaroni salad is known for its soft and creamy texture. Cooking the pasta longer than usual allows it to absorb the dressing better, making it extra flavorful.
It stays fresh for up to 2 days when stored in an airtight container. After that, it may start to lose its creamy texture.
More Tropical Recipes
📋 Recipe
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound macaroni
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup yellow onion grated
- ½ cup carrot grated
- ½ cup celery chopped
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Boil macaroni in a large pot for 15 minutes. The macaroni will be very tender at this point. Drain pasta and transfer to a bowl.
- While macaroni is still warm, mix in vinegar. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the carrots, onion, and celery.
- In a small bowl, mix together milk and mayo. Add the mayo mixture to the salad and stir until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
You'll also like my Hawaiian Acai Bowl!
Daren HIllhouse says
I'm a huge fan of Macaroni Salad if it's done right. It's a great addition to any BBQ and the great thing, it will save really well if there are leftovers. Thank you for sharing, I'm going to have to try your recipe. I love easy recipes.
Ashley says
I love the macaroni salads too! I hope you enjoy this recipe. 🙂