Description
Hearty pioneer woman macaroni salad delivers classic American picnic comfort with crisp vegetables and creamy dressing. Rich flavors blend perfectly, making this dish a delightful summer staple you’ll crave at each gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (946 ml) elbow macaroni
- 3 whole roasted red peppers, diced
- 6 sweet/spicy pickle slices, diced
- ½ cup (120 ml) black olives, finely chopped
- 3 green onions, sliced
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine or distilled vinegar
- 3 tsp (15 ml) sugar
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) salt
- Black pepper
- Splash of pickle juice
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Immerse macaroni in generously salted water, cooking until perfectly tender. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to halt cooking, then cool completely to room temperature.
- Dressing Creation: Blend mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Smooth out the mixture with whole milk, introducing pickle brine for a zesty undertone. Whisk until achieving a silky, pourable consistency.
- Combining Components: Integrate the cooled pasta with most of the prepared dressing, ensuring uniform coating. Gently fold in red pimentos, green olives, dill pickles, and green onions, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
- Flavor Infusion: Enhance the salad with an additional splash of pickle juice, allowing the ingredients to marinate and develop a more complex taste profile. Transfer to a sealed container, refrigerating for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld completely.
- Serving Presentation: Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir and garnish with fresh green onion slices. Offer chilled, presenting a vibrant and refreshing side dish that promises a delightful culinary experience.
Notes
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours to let ingredients blend and develop a richer, more harmonious taste.
- Perfect Pasta Texture: Rinse macaroni with cold water and cool completely to prevent clumping and achieve the ideal al dente consistency.
- Customize Dressing Consistency: Adjust milk gradually to create a smooth, pourable dressing that coats pasta evenly without becoming too runny.
- Enhance Tangy Depth: Add pickle brine strategically to introduce an unexpected zesty kick that elevates the overall flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 267
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 288 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 9 mg