Original Hawaiian pasta salad

Hawaiian pasta salad It’s easy to make with simple ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. Sweet, tangy, and perfectly creamy, it’s a great side dish for backyard barbecues, potlucks, or the holidays.

I love to feature party-friendly recipes to help you plan your holiday menu and special occasions. So far, we’ve got Braised Pork with Pineapple and Steamed Lapu-Lapu with Mayonnaise, plus homemade gift ideas like Tropical Magic Bars and Spanish-Style Bangus Oil.

Chicken Pasta Salad is one of my most popular recipes here at Kwaling Pinoy during the Christmas season, and that’s no surprise because it’s seriously BOMB! Creamy and delicious with plenty of diced ham, chopped eggs, cubed cheese, crushed pineapple and raisins, every spoonful is like a party in your mouth.

But since our Filipino style pasta salad has a lot of add-ins, it can take a long time. If you’re looking for an easier option with fewer ingredients and less than thirty minutes to read, Hawaiian Pasta Salad is the perfect choice!

Mac salad is a staple of the local Hawaiian food scene and is traditionally served with a meat main course and steamed rice as part of the quintessential Hawaiian lunch plate.

An easy, no-frills recipe, this pasta dish uses only a few ingredients you probably already have. It’s a simple pasta of pasta, shredded carrots and grated onions tossed with applesauce and a creamy sauce, yet it’s just as delicious as the more elaborate versions.

Note the ingredients

• macaroniElbow pasta is best for this recipe
• Apple cider vinegar– Adds a little flavor and helps the pasta absorb more flavour
• vegetablesGrated carrots and grated onions add texture and density. Green onions for garnish. You can also add celery or sweet relish for extra flavor.
• Dressing– A simple mixture of mayonnaise, milk and sugar. Use full-fat mayonnaise and whole milk for an extra creamy taste and texture. If you want to shed some calories, replace the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, but expect a change in taste.
• spices– Salt enhances flavour, and pepper adds flavor. Use ala or fine sea salt for a more authentic taste.

How to make Hawaiian pasta salad

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well and transfer to a bowl. While still hot, drizzle with apple cider vinegar. Let it cool.
2. In another bowl, mix mayonnaise, milk, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth.
3. Add the grated carrots and grated onions to the pasta and toss gently to distribute. Add half the amount of sauce mixture and stir until the ingredients are mixed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the mac salad stand for a few minutes to allow the pasta to absorb the sauce.
4. Add the remaining half of the sauce and stir until completely covered. Garnish with chopped green onions, if desired. Place it in the refrigerator for several hours until it cools and the flavors mix.

How to apply and store

• Hawaiian pasta salad holds up well and can be prepared before a party. If it seems dry from cooling, add additional mayonnaise dressing to thin out the texture and restore some creaminess.
• You can serve it as a side dish with your favorite main dishes like tonkatsu, salmon teriyaki, bulgogi, or BBQ pork on a stick.
• Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Unfortunately, it doesn’t freeze well, because mayonnaise sauce tends to break or separate when frozen and thawed.
• For food safety, do not keep salad at room temperature for more than two hours because it contains mayonnaise, which may cause it to spoil faster, especially in hot weather.

For more island favorites, try this Spam Musubi recipe!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a comment below and tag me @kawalingpinoy on Facebook and Instagram!

Hawaiian Style Pasta Salad is a creamy, refreshing salad and perfect side for BBQs, potlucks, and holiday parties. It’s easy to make and is sure to impress a crowd!

Preparation time: 15 minutes minute

Cooking time: 10 minutes minute

stands up: 35 minutes minute

Total time: 1 hour hour

turn: Side of the plate

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ingredients

• 1 fairy Uncooked elbow macaroni
• ½ cup Grated carrots
• ¼ cup Grated onions
• 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
• 2 Glasses mayonnaise
• ½ cup Milk
• 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
• ½ small spoon salt
• ¼ small spoon Pepper
• Chopped green onions

directions

• In a pot over medium heat, bring about 4 liters of water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl.

• While still hot, drizzle with apple cider vinegar. Let it cool.

• In another bowl, mix mayonnaise, milk, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Whisk together until smooth.

• Add carrots and onions to the pasta. Gently toss to distribute evenly.

• Add half the amount of sauce to the pasta mixture, and stir until the ingredients are mixed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Leave it for a few minutes to allow the pasta to absorb the sauce.

• Add the remaining half of the sauce and stir until completely covered. Garnish with chopped green onions, if desired.

• Cover the bowl with a tight lid, then place it in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours until it cools completely and the flavors combine. Serve cold.

Notes

• Mix the pasta with the apple cider vinegar while it is still hot and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes to cool before adding the rest of the ingredients.
• The salad will be soupy at first, but it will absorb the dressing as it is served.
• If you want to add meat, toss in the cubed spam.

Nutrition information

Calories: 618Calories, Carbohydrates: 48g, protein: 9g, fat: 43g, Saturated fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 25mg, sodium: 518mg, Potassium: 191mg, Fiber: 2g, sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1398international unit, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 39mg, iron: 1mg

“This site provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is collected primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or from other online calculators.