Classic Macaroni Salad

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
  • Total: 45 min (plus soaking)
  • Active: 20 min
Creamy dishes like Alex’s macaroni salad are a perfect match for fresh dill. “I love dill with mayonnaise,” she says. “It’s grassy and light.”
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Ingredients

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco)

1 small red onion, diced, soaked in ice water at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours

1 large red bell pepper, diced

3 scallions (green parts only), thinly sliced

Kosher salt

12 ounces elbow macaroni

1 sprig dill, leaves finely chopped

4 sprigs basil, leaves torn

Directions

  1. Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce and hot sauce until smooth. Drain and dry the red onion and stir it into the dressing along with the bell pepper, scallions and a generous pinch of salt.
  2. Make the pasta: In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt. Add the pasta and cook, stirring from time to time, until al dente (chewy but not hard or raw tasting), 6 to 10 minutes. Drain; do not rinse the pasta. Spread it out on a large baking sheet to cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. While the pasta is still warm, add it to the bowl with the dressing and let sit at room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir in the dill and basil just before serving and taste for seasoning.

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Alexandra B.

I love Alex’s recipes! This one is my go-to macaroni salad. The fresh dill and basil really make this salad pop.

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