Black Folks Soul Food Macaroni Salad
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A Southern classic recipe, Black people macaroni salad is a fabulous, creamy dish featuring macaroni noodles, mayonnaise, and seasonings. Similar to Black folks’ cookout favorites, potato salad, and coleslaw.
With its creamy texture and flavorful seasonings, soul food macaroni salad is not just a side dish for summer barbecues and potlucks, but a versatile dish that can elevate any meal.
Black people macaroni salad is a delightful blend of creaminess, crunch, sweetness, and tang, creating a unique flavor profile that will leave you craving for more.
What makes soul food macaroni salad the best?
Black people macaroni salad incorporates flavorful ingredients like carrots, onions, and celery. But the soul food combination of seasonings packs the delicious punch! Thyme, celery salt, and even cayenne pepper for a tiny touch of sweet heat and a nod to the complexity of soul food.
This Southern-inspired macaroni salad is not just a perfect pasta side dish for backyard barbecues but also a versatile addition to any gathering, whether you’re tailgating at the stadium or hosting a family reunion or graduation party.
Ingredients
The specialness of Black folks’ macaroni salad goes beyond the diverse list of ingredients like macaroni noodles, carrots, celery, and yellow onion. It’s a soulful recipe deeply rooted in African American cuisine, representing family gatherings and get-togethers. This salad, which integrates mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, dill weed, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, celery salt, and black pepper, brings an authentic taste that speaks to shared experiences and traditions.
Measurements for the recipe can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Macaroni noodles – They form the base, offering a chewy texture.
- Water – Water is the necessary liquid for boiling the macaroni noodles.
- Olive oil – It gives a smooth gloss, making the noodles non-sticky.
- Carrots and celery – Sweet and refreshing, these add a crunch, contrasting the soft noodles.
- Yellow onion – Brings a sharp, sweet aroma, enhancing the overall flavor.
- Mayonnaise – It binds the ingredients, adding creaminess.
- Mustard – Introduces a tangy kick, balancing the richness.
- Sugar – A hint of sweetness that counters the tanginess.
- Dill weed and dried thyme – These herbs embed a fragrant note.
- Cayenne pepper – Provides a spicy undertone.
- Celery salt and black pepper – They infuse warmth and depth.
How to make Black people macaroni salad
Macaroni salad is an essential part of Black culinary traditions. The choice of ingredients respects tradition while a handful of soulful seasonings and spices enhance the flavor. The foundation of this pasta side dish is tender macaroni noodles, complemented by a rich mayonnaise dressing and a delightful mustard flavor that adds a unique twist to the traditional macaroni salad. You can boil the noodles or use the Instant Pot for faster cooking.
Step-by-step instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Boil the noodles according to the package instructions, or use the Instant Pot to cook the noodles faster.
- Shred the carrots and dice the celery and onion with a chef’s knife or food processor while the macaroni is cooking.
- Drain the water using a colander.
- Pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl.
- Add the set-aside chopped vegetables: shredded carrots, diced celery, and onion to the bowl with the noodles.
- Sprinkle in the seasonings and spices: sugar, dill, thyme, cayenne pepper, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Add the mayonnaise and mustard to the pasta mixture.
- Stir and fold in the ingredients into each other until thoroughly combined.
- Serve right away, or place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving for cold macaroni salad. Then serve and enjoy!
Watch the video with key recipe moments for Black people macaroni salad.
Should the pasta cool before adding the dressing?
Pro tip: After boiling the pasta, drain and rinse it as usual. Then, transfer the cooked pasta to a bowl of olive oil and toss to prevent the dressing from sticking and absorbing the mayonnaise.
How to prevent runny macaroni salad
To prevent macaroni salad from becoming watery, drain all the water from the cooked pasta before adding other ingredients. A colander can easily accomplish this to prevent the noodles from making the salad runny.
Follow the recipe or pasta box instructions to cook the pasta al dente to avoid absorbing too much liquid. After cooking, drain and rinse the pasta with cold water.
Balance watery vegetables like tomatoes and peppers with drier vegetables like shredded carrots. Use the appropriate amount of mayonnaise and mustard to prevent the salad from becoming runny.
Why does mayo disappear in pasta salad?
The mayonnaise disappears from the pasta salad because the starch in the pasta absorbs the liquid, bonding with the fat in the mayonnaise and getting absorbed by the pasta.
Make-ahead Southern macaroni salad
You can prepare this pasta salad ahead of time, and it actually tastes better the longer it sits! You can make it up to a day before serving it.
Allowing the flavors to develop overnight enhances the overall flavor profile, which is why many pasta salad recipes improve when served the next day!
How long does macaroni salad stay good?
Macaroni salad is best served chilled, especially during the summertime. To keep it fresh, refrigerate it for at least an hour before serving.
Since macaroni salad contains perishable ingredients, it should be served cold. It should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours unless being actively served.
Several signs indicate that a macaroni salad may not be safe to eat. It should not be consumed if it develops an unpleasant odor, flavor, appearance, or mold.
What to serve with macaroni salad?
When choosing what to serve with macaroni salad, several soul food cookout favorite recipes pair perfectly with it. From burgers to hot dogs, fried chicken, chicken salad, salmon, tuna salad, or tuna fish, to name a few.
Of course, all kinds of BBQ meats, from chicken to beef or pork, go well with macaroni salad.
Rich in flavor and with a bit of spice, this Black folks’ macaroni salad recipe is the perfect side dish for BBQs, picnics, and holiday feasts.
Equipment
- Large pot or an Instant Pot (for boiling the noodles)
- Colander
Ingredients
- 8 oz elbow noodles uncooked
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ cup carrots shredded
- ¼ cup celery diced
- ¼ cup yellow onion diced
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon dill weed
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil the noodles according to the package instructions. If using the Instant Pot to cook the noodles, open the lid and add the water and olive oil to the steel inner pot. Use a spoon to stir the macaroni to ensure the noodles are submerged in the liquid. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up—in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.
- While the macaroni is cooking, shred the carrots and dice the celery and onion with a chef’s knife or food processor.
- Set the finished vegetables aside.
- If using the stovetop, remove the pot from the stovetop. For the Instant Pot: When the macaroni cooking time finishes, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes. Then, open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting,’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable. Stir the macaroni to loosen any clumps.
- Use a colander to drain the water.
- Then, pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl.
- Add the set-aside shredded carrots and the diced celery and onion to the bowl with the noodles.
- Sprinkle in the sugar, dill, thyme, cayenne pepper, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Add the mayonnaise and mustard to the pasta mixture.
- Stir and fold the ingredients into each other until thoroughly combined.
- Serve Black folks soul food macaroni salad right away. For cold macaroni salad, place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. Then serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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This is a must try Macaroni Salad!
This recipe is amazing – finally got around to making it tonight. – I’m new to cooking and I’m still learning my way around the kitchen so I really appreciated preparation tips. Rinsing Macaroni with cold water, drain and then toss in olive oil worked wonders.
Will definitely remake
I’m so happy you love this family recipe, and that you found these pasta tips super helpful!