{"id":1712279,"date":"2021-10-08T05:14:05","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T10:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/hawaiian-macaroni-salad\/"},"modified":"2024-07-19T08:21:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T13:21:28","slug":"hawaiian-macaroni-salad","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/hawaiian-macaroni-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaiian Macaroni Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"

No backyard barbecue is complete without a well-placed side salad. Cold pasta salads<\/a>\u2014especially a creamy concoction like a Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe\u2014are a perfect counterbalance to rich grilled meats.<\/p>\n

This Hawaiian pasta salad recipe stands out from a mainland classic pasta salad recipe<\/a> because of its simplicity. The noodles are much softer, allowing the creamy dressing to take center stage. Surprisingly, the dressing is basically high-quality mayonnaise. We add a little sugar and vinegar to our recipe for depth, but there’s no need for additions like mustard, sour cream, evaporated milk or relish.<\/p>\n

What is Hawaiian macaroni salad?<\/h2>\n

Hawaiian macaroni salad is a no-frills pasta salad made with elbow macaroni, shredded carrots and a generous amount of mayonnaise, which gives the salad its signature creaminess and flavor. Most recipes include vinegar and a touch of sugar in the dressing, and some (like ours) also include grated celery and onions. However, it’s uncommon to find ham, pineapple or other tropical ingredients often associated with Hawaii.<\/p>\n

Where did Hawaiian macaroni salad originate?<\/h2>\n

Hawaiian mac salad’s origins are said to date back to the early 1900s when European hotel chefs and plantation owners introduced potato salad recipes<\/a> to the islands. Unfortunately, potatoes perished quickly in the humid climate, and spuds were later swapped for a cheaper, nonperishable ingredient: dry elbow pasta.<\/p>\n

Hawaiian pasta salad soon became a staple side dish in migrant plantation workers\u2019 metal-box lunches, which also included salty meats and white rice (leftovers from the workers’ dinners the night before). By the 1930s, waterfront and roadside vendors started selling Hawaiian mac salad, giving it a permanent place in Hawaiian cuisine.<\/p>\n

Today, macaroni salad is incredibly popular in Hawaii because of its key role in plate lunch\u2014a quintessential Hawaiian food<\/a>. Almost every diner and food truck serves up these hefty plate lunches piled high with rice, baked or grilled meat like\u00a0kalua pork<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0huli huli chicken<\/a>, and a perfect scoop of Hawaiian macaroni salad. The creamy, mayonnaise-drenched macaroni salad augments the flavor of the plain white rice while neutralizing the saltier, more robust flavors found in the meat.<\/p>\n

Ingredients for Hawaiian Macaroni Salad<\/h2>\n

\"IngredientsTaste Recipes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n