Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe (Mac Salad)

April 19, 2018Van

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Serves: 6

Macaroni Salad is a people pleaser. From picnics in summer, to a must-have side dish for those filling Hawaiian Plate Lunches. The Hawaiian Plate Lunch has been making people happy since the late 1800’s. A hearty “island style” presentation of the Japanese Bento Box designed to feed hungry pineapple and sugar plantation workers—but proved too irresistible for the rest of us. Typically filled with lots of meat and lots of rice, the plate lunch expanded in the last century to include mac salad.

Hawaiian Mac Salad is unique because of the taste and texture, the macaroni is cooked very soft which adds to the creamy texture and the addition apple cider vinegar + a little sugar balances out the flavor. The secret ingredient is a little bit of canned tuna, it took me years to figure this out because I could never get it to taste like my favorite mac salad, but just a little bit adds that extra boost of flavor. If you’ve ever been to Hawai’i you can appreciate the protein options from Kalua Pork, Chicken Katsu, BBQ Ribs to Spicy Garlic Shrimp and how perfectly the creamy Mac Salad pairs with any of those dishes.

To get the most authentic flavor, you must use Best Foods or Hellman’s Mayonnaise and a lot of it!
Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe Best Foods Mayonnaise

Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe (Mac Salad)

April 19, 2018 Van

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

Serves: 6

www.foodisafourletterword.com

Ingredients

½ Pound Elbow Macaroni, (8 oz)
1½ Cups Best Foods Mayo or Hellmann's
3 Tablespoons Whole Milk
1 Teaspoon Canned Tuna, (optional)
1½ Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Granulated Sugar
1 Small Carrot, peeled and grated fine
2 Teaspoons Grated Onion
½ Teaspoon Flaked Sea Salt or Kosher Salt, (plus more to salt the boiling water)

Method

1)
Bring a large pot of water to boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ Pound Elbow Macaroni. Cook for 15 Minutes (Yes 15 Minutes, for Hawaiian Mac Salad the macaroni needs to be overcooked and very soft).
2)
Drain the macaroni in a colander, run cold water over the macaroni and let it drain for about 10 minutes.
3)
In a large bowl, add 1½ Cup of Best Foods Mayo, 3 Tablespoons Whole Milk 1½ Teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 Teaspoon of Sugar, ½ Teaspoon of Sea Salt, 1 Teaspoon Canned Tuna, 2 Teaspoons Grated Onion and 1 Grated Carrot – stir very well until it’s well combined.
4)
Add the macaroni and stir well, taste and season more if needed. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. If it looks curdled or dry after being refrigerated, add a splash of milk and stir well, it will get creamy again. Enjoy!

↓ Supplies to make this recipe ↓

6 Comments

Don

April 22, 2018 at 10:40 am

So many options for mac salad out there, but yours is one of my favorites. Plate lunch here I come. Thank you for this.

Don

Reply
1. Van
  
  April 22, 2018 at 12:48 pm
  
  You’re welcome Don! What else are you making for your plate lunch? I could go for some spicy garlic shrimp right now!
  
  Reply
Don

April 24, 2018 at 9:09 am

Oh Shrimp sounds yummy, but you can’t forget Instant Pot Kalua Pig. Fast and tasty.

Reply
1. Van
  
  April 24, 2018 at 9:14 am
  
  I’ve been wanting to try kalua pork in the Instant Pot, do you wrap it banana leaves?
  
  Reply
Don

April 25, 2018 at 8:04 am

No, I use the recipe from NomNom Paleo and I think it is great. The Hawaiian salt makes it very tasty. Putting the cabbage in after the meat cooks and then cooking it in the broth…..yummm. Maybe better than the pork.

Please try it.

Don

Reply
1. Van
  
  April 25, 2018 at 10:21 am
  
  Thanks Don, I’ll check it out! I still have alaea salt from the last time I made kalua pork (in the oven) – I might try wrapping the pork in banana leaves because I happen to have some in the freezer.
  
  Reply