Macaroni Salad isn't just for Noche Buena in the Philippines; it's a fantastic side dish for fried or grilled meats. It's creamy, delicious, and so simple to make!
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Ingredients you'll need
Notes and substitutions
- Elbow macaroni: I used elbows which are short, hollow tubes with a curved shape. You can use regular macaroni, which is a straight tube pasta or other shapes that have cavities, grooves, or ridges like shells, fusilli, or penne.
- Pineapple juice: Use canned pineapple slices, chunks, or crushed pineapple. Some recipes use apple cider or sweet pickle relish to add a similar sweet and tangy flavor.
- Hard-boiled eggs: These add creaminess and a protein boost. You can also add cheddar cheese, processed cheese (like Eden cheese), or boiled potatoes for a similar creamy texture. Some add shredded chicken, canned tuna, or chopped ham.
- Optional mix-ins: You can add crunch and sweetness to the salad with water chestnuts, raisins, diced apples, nuts, or dried cranberries. For those who enjoy their salad on the sweeter side, or even as a dessert, you can add condensed milk, fruit cocktail, kaong, or nata de coco.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Cook the macaroni
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, but add an extra 2 minutes to make sure it soft but still firm. Once cooked, drain and transfer to a large bowl.
Step 2: Add the mix-ins
Once the cooked macaroni has cooled, add the finely grated carrots, finely chopped onions, chopped pineapple (no need to drain), chopped celery, chopped roasted red peppers, and chopped eggs.
Step 3: Make the dressing
In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sugar, a generous pinch of salt, some ground pepper, and about 2 tablespoons of the reserved pineapple juice. Mix it well until smooth and creamy.
Step 4: Combine
Pour the dressing over the pasta and other ingredients in the bowl. Gently mix together, until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
Step 5: Taste and refrigerate
Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or sugar if you think it needs it. If the salad is dry, you can add a bit more pineapple juice.
Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. This gives all those flavors time to really come together before you serve it up.
After chilling in the fridge, you might notice it could use a touch more mayonnaise or pineapple juice. Just tweak it to get that creamy texture you love.
Serve and enjoy your Macaroni Salad with some Crispy Fried Chicken, a favorite pairing in the Philippines that always hits the spot!
Recipe FAQs
If you're preparing a cold pasta salad, it's a good idea to rinse the pasta. This cools it down, stops it from cooking any further, and gets rid of extra starch so it won't turn sticky or clump together in your salad.
If you keep your Macaroni Salad in a tight-sealed container, it should stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing might not be the best idea. It can change the texture, making the pasta mushy and the dressing likely to separate.
If the salad seems a bit dry, just mix in a bit more mayonnaise or pineapple juice to get it to the creaminess you like.
Other Noche Buena Ideas
- Christmas Ham: A staple in Noche Buena, this ham is often glazed with a sweet mixture made with pineapple and brown sugar.
- Lechon: A whole roasted pig with crispy skin and tender meat, often served with liver sauce.
- Pancit: Symbolizing long life, these stir-fried noodles are a must for Filipino celebrations.
- Fruit Salad: A mix of canned or fresh fruits with a sweet and creamy dressing.
- Spaghetti: Filipino-style spaghetti with a sweet sauce made with banana ketchup and sugar, cooked with ground meat and hotdogs.
- Embutido: Filipino-style meatloaf with ground pork, raisins, carrots, and bell peppers, steamed in aluminum foil.
- Leche Flan: Rich and creamy custard made with eggs, milk, and sugar, then topped with a layer of caramel sauce.
Other noodle and pasta recipes you may like
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📖 Recipe
Filipino Macaroni Salad
Equipment
- Heavy-bottomed pot
- Strainer
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni see note
- ½ cup finely grated carrots
- ½ cup finely chopped onions
- 1 cup chopped pineapple (canned) juice reserved; see note
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup chopped roasted red pepper
- 2 hard-boiled eggs chopped; see note
- 2 cups mayonnaise more to taste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard more to taste
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey more to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, but add an extra 2 minutes to make sure it soft but still firm. Once cooked, drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Once the macaroni pasta has cooled, add the carrots, onions, pineapple (no need to drain), celery, roasted red peppers, and eggs.
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sugar, a generous pinch of salt, some ground pepper, and about 2 tablespoons of the reserved pineapple juice. Mix well until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and other ingredients. Gently mix everything together, until evenly coated with the dressing.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or sugar as needed. If the salad is dry, you can add a bit more pineapple juice.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
- After refrigerating, you might find that it needs a bit more mayonnaise or pineapple juice. Adjust accordingly to maintain the desired creaminess.
Notes
- Elbow macaroni: I used elbows which are short, hollow tubes with a curved shape. You can use regular macaroni, which is a straight tube pasta or other shapes that have cavities, grooves, or ridges like shells, fusilli, or penne.
- Pineapple juice: Use canned pineapple slices, chunks, or crushed pineapple. Some recipes use apple cider or sweet relish to add a similar sweet and tangy flavor.
- Hard-boiled eggs: They add creaminess and extra protein to the salad. You can also use processed cheese, like Eden cheese, or boiled potatoes for a similar creamy texture. For additional protein, consider adding shredded chicken, canned tuna, or chopped ham.
- Optional mix-ins: You can add crunch and sweetness to the salad with water chestnuts, raisins, diced apples, nuts, or dried cranberries. For those who enjoy their salad on the sweeter side, or even as a dessert, you can add condensed milk, fruit cocktail, kaong, or nata de coco.
Chris says
No raisins? Hahaha thanks for the recipe
Nora Reyes says
Hi Chris, Ha!ha! I knew someone would notice the missing raisins! Feel free to add a handful if you're part of the raisin fan club. Hope you enjoy the recipe! 😄🍇🥗