Macaroni Salad is similar to potato salad, but it’s a little quicker to make than boiling potatoes and cubing them. The flavor is similar, but the texture is a bit softer with pasta being the base versus pieces of potatoes.
As with other chilled salads, macaroni salad is especially popular in the summer. The salad can be made ahead and during the cooler morning or evening hours when the Southern heat is not so intense. Then, the side dish is ready for lunch, the evening meal, or to take to various social events which are frequent particularly in small Southern towns.
There are many variations of the classic macaroni salad served in the South. This macaroni recipe is reflective of the traditional macaroni salads seen most commonly.
Southern Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
- Elbow macaroni noodles (8 ounces – or two cups before cooking)
- 1 cup salad dressing (Miracle Whip or mayonnaise – depending on taste preferences)
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 1/3 cup chopped celery
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 2 TBS pickle relish
- 1 hard boiled egg chopped
- ¾ tsp dry mustard
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- Paprika (to sprinkle on top for eye appeal)
Directions:
- Boil macaroni noodles according to package directions, going with the lower end of the cooking time, so the noodles stay firm.
- Rinse cooked macaroni immediately with cold water to reduce stickiness and drain well.
- Mix together all other ingredients except paprika and then gently fold the macaroni noodles into the salad dressing mixture until noodles are evenly coated.
- Sprinkle on some paprika if desired for a color contrast.
- Chill a couple of hours minimum or make the night before and chill overnight.
*Note - If taking this salad to an outdoor event or to a pot luck dinner, be sure to keep it chilled until time to serve and then do not leave it out for a long period of time.
Other Favorite Southern Side Dish Recipes:
Southern Onion Casserole - This rich side dish is easy and inexpensive to make. It's a great recipe for all the onion lovers and even converts some who think they do not like onions.
Easy Cucumber Salad - For a quick dish, this salad is hard to beat. Just stir, chill, and have an instant side dish.
Wilted Lettuce Salad - An oldie but a goodie, this traditional mountain recipe in from the Grandma files.
Pan Fried Potatoes - A family favorite side dish, this recipe is easy and always a crowd pleaser. Skillet potatoes are filling too.
Shredded Potato Pancakes - This is a more labor intensive recipe, but it certainly is delicious.
Cyndi Allison - Southern born and fed, Cyndi Allison is a college lecturer and newspaper advisor as well as being a freelance writer. She writes on ...
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