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Mac Salad (Hawaii, USA)

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Mac Salad
Mac Salad

Mac Salad (Hawaii, USA)

Mac salad is a cool, creamy, slightly sweet staple in Hawaiian food. It seems like everyone has their own recipe but the overall majority uses macaroni, carrots, onions and mayonnaise. Only one rule seems absolute: the mayo better be Best Foods or Hellmann's.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Course Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American, Hawaiian
Servings 8 Servings

Equipment

  • Normal Kitchen Utensils

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Lb Elbow Macaroni
  • 2 C Mayonnaise Authentic Recipes Use Best Foods or Hellmann's
  • 1/2 Small Sweet Onion
  • 2-3 Carrots
  • 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar Or Rice Vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Sugar
  • 1/2 C Milk
  • 8-16 Oz. Imitation Crab Meat (Optional) but Recommended
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions
 

  • Boil your macaroni per the package directions. Be sure to salt the water
    1 Lb Elbow Macaroni
  • While the pasta boils, grate the carrot and onion. Grate or finely chop the (optional) imitation crab if you are using it.
    Note: the onion will create a lot of juice when grated. Save it to add in the next step.
    1/2 Small Sweet Onion, 2-3 Carrots, 8-16 Oz. Imitation Crab Meat
  • In a large bowl, mix the carrot, onion, (optional) imitation crab, mayonnaise, milk, sugar and vinegar. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste and put in the refrigerator to start chilling while the pasta finishes cooking.
    2 C Mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 Tbsp Sugar, 1/2 C Milk, Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • When the macaroni is boiled, drain the water and let the pasta cool a few minutes before tossing with the vegetables and dressing.
  • Refrigerate the mac salad for at least two hours, so it is as cold as possible, before serving.
    Note: if the dressing doesn't look smooth after the salad finished chilling, the macaroni has absorbed a little too much moisture. To fix this, add an extra 1/4 milk or a few more Tbsp of mayo.

Notes

There are countless variations to this dish, including added green onion, hard boiled egg, potatoes or tuna. The imitation crab meat is one of those potential add-ins, but man does it make this salad. 
That being said, experiment a little and make this dish your own. Just remember: if you want it to be authentic and ono (delicious), you better make sure you use Hellman’s or Best Foods mayonnaise. 
Keyword Carrots, Hawaii, Macaroni, Mayonnaise, Salad, Tangy