Filipino Macaroni Salad

This creamy and delicious salad is perfect for Noche Buena or as a side dish for fried or grilled meats.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Filipino

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Chill Time 1

Total Time 1 25

Servings

Calories 319kcal

Cost $5-$7

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.

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.