Delicious Macaroni Salad: A Simple & Satisfying Recipe!
Whip up a Quick and Tasty Macaroni Salad with Ingredients You Already Have!
Don’t let your fridge ingredients go to waste! This recipe shows you how to easily create a crowd-pleasing macaroni salad. While this version uses basic pantry staples, adding carrots and cucumbers will elevate the flavor and texture even further. Give it a try!
Salad Ingredients
- 200g macaroni
- 1/4 onion (small)
- 5 imitation crab sticks (or surimi)
- 100g canned corn, drained
- A little cooking oil (for coating macaroni)
- 1/2 tsp salt (for boiling macaroni)
Dressing Ingredients
- 6 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- Pinch of black pepper
- 6 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- Pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, bring a generous amount of water to a boil in a pot. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the boiling water. Once the water is at a rolling boil, add the macaroni. Cook for about 8-9 minutes, referring to the package instructions for precise timing. For an ‘al dente’ bite, aim for 8 minutes; for a softer texture, cook for 9 minutes. I found 9 minutes yielded a lovely tender result.
Step 2
While the macaroni is cooking, prepare your other ingredients. Finely chop the onion. If you find raw onion too pungent, you can soak the chopped onion in cold water for about 5 minutes and then drain it thoroughly to mellow its flavor.
Step 3
For the imitation crab sticks, you can simply shred them with your fingers. Alternatively, for a finer texture, slice them in half lengthwise, then use the back of a knife to gently break apart the strands.
Step 4
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the cooked macaroni: the chopped onion, shredded crab sticks, and the drained canned corn. Have them ready for assembly.
Step 5
Once the macaroni is cooked, drain it well using a colander. To prevent sticking, toss it with a tiny amount of cooking oil while it’s still warm. (Alternatively, for a quicker method, you can rinse it under cold water and drain thoroughly – I often opt for this shortcut!) Add the drained macaroni to the bowl with the other prepared ingredients. Finally, add all the dressing ingredients (mayonnaise, salt, sugar, and pepper) and mix everything together gently until well combined. Your delicious macaroni salad is ready! For an even more delightful salad, consider adding finely diced carrots or cucumbers for extra crunch and flavor.
