Description
Hawaiian mac salad from Ono requires simple ingredients and delivers authentic Pacific island flavor. Home cooks can quickly mix creamy dressings and tender pasta to create a classic side dish you’ll enjoy alongside grilled meats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) macaroni pasta
- 2 ½ cups (600 ml) water or broth
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 carrot, slivered (about ¼ cup)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) milk
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) sugar
- 1 tsp crushed garlic (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook macaroni in an Instant Pot pressure cooker filled halfway with water or broth. Secure lid, set to high pressure for 4 minutes, followed by a 4-minute natural release and quick release of remaining pressure.
- Cooling and Marinating: Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and combine with thinly sliced carrots. Drizzle apple cider vinegar over the mixture, then refrigerate for 1 hour to chill and meld flavors.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk mayonnaise, sugar, and milk in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Optional minced garlic can be incorporated for additional depth.
- Final Assembly: Remove chilled pasta from refrigerator, pour creamy dressing over pasta and carrots. Gently toss to ensure even coating. If mixture appears dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to achieve desired consistency.
- Serving: Cover and return to refrigerator, allowing salad to marinate for 4 hours or overnight. Serve thoroughly chilled to maximize flavor and texture.
Notes
- Chill for Flavor Infusion: Refrigerate the salad for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow ingredients to develop a rich, harmonious taste profile.
- Master the Pasta Texture: Avoid overcooking by using the Instant Pot method and immediately rinsing with cold water to prevent mushy macaroni.
- Customize Creaminess: Adjust the dressing consistency by adding extra milk if the salad appears too dry, ensuring a perfectly smooth and creamy texture.
- Boost Optional Flavor: Experiment with minced garlic for an extra depth of taste that complements the classic Hawaiian-style macaroni salad.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 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