You’ll love this classic Hawaiian Mac Salad!
When I was brainstorming recipes and foods that Hawaii is known for, one of the first ones that immediately came to mind was this Hawaiian macaroni salad. It’s definitely one of the 50th state’s signature dishes and perfect for my American Eats series. And since it’s summertime, this needs to be on your menu whether you are just cooking for your family or heading to a potluck. Hawaiian macaroni salad goes with practically any grilled meat. In Hawaii, it’s known for being one of the critical components in the Hawaiian plate lunch. A plate lunch can have a number of different proteins from grilled teriyaki chicken (my personal favorite) to kalua pork, but they are always served with this mayonnaise-based macaroni salad and two scoops of sticky rice. Be sure to check out some of our other popular pasta recipes like BLT Pasta Salad, Tuna Noodle Casserole, and Classic Frog Eye Salad!
Why is Hawaiian Macaroni Salad so popular?
The plate lunch is a cheap and filling dish that originated back in the 1880’s as a midday meal for workers at Hawaii’s sugar and pineapple plantations. Now a Hawaiian plate dish lunch with macaroni salad is served at roadside stands, drive-ins, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants throughout Hawaii and at a number of restaurants on the mainland like L&L Barbecue and Ono’s. The creamy, carb-loaded macaroni salad was an inexpensive way to bulk out a plantation worker’s lunch, which was usually made up of leftovers from the previous day.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe ingredients
Real Hawaiian mac salad is just elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, a little milk to think out the mayo a bit, apple cider vinegar, grated carrots, salt and pepper. Sometimes (often) chopped celery and green onions are also added, which is what I like to do because I love the flavor and texture they add. It’s similar to classic macaroni salad, but there are a few key distinctions you need to know about to get that true authentic Hawaiian macaroni salad texture and taste. First, you will need to intentionally overcook the macaroni noodles. It feels so wrong to cook pasta beyond “al dente” perfection, but overcooked pasta absorbs the other flavors much more than al dente pasta, in addition to giving you the correct texture to achieve the same kind of macaroni salad that you get in Hawaii. Another key point is that you have to use real mayo in this recipe. Miracle Whip just won’t work and gives a different taste than true mayonnaise like Best Foods/Hellmann’s or Duke’s. It’s important. Trust me. The third thing you need to know is that the apple cider vinegar in the recipe needs to be added when the pasta is still hot, just after draining. The hot, overcooked noodles will absorb the vinegar which is important to the flavor of the pasta salad.
How to make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
How to serve this Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe
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Macaroni Salad Recipe Hawaii storage
How long is macaroni salad good for?
Hawaiian macaroni salad, like most pasta salads, will last for a few days in the fridge. Just cover it well and store it for up to 4 days, then give it a stir before serving. If it seems a little too dry, mix a little mayo with some milk and fold that in to loosen things up. Be sure not to leave macaroni salad out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
More Summer Cookout Side Dishes
Best Baked Beans Recipe Creamy Grape Salad Cottage Cheese Jello Salad Deviled Egg Potato Salad Grilled Corn Salad Summer Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppy Seed Dressing Homemade Caesar Salad
More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • Oregon • Puerto Rico • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Utah • Wisconsin
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Classic Bacon Broccoli Salad
Greek Pasta Salad
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