Summer Picnic Macaroni Salad

Chef #396380's Note:

This is the macaroni salad that is served at every family gathering or picnic during the warm weather. It is a true summer comfort food. It also seems to get better with age. I hope you enjoy it.

• Total Time: 18 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 3 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 lb salad macaroni (cooked)
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 4 sweet pickles , finely minced (baby gherkins)
• ½ cup diced celery
• ½ cup diced sweet onion
• 6 ounces albacore tuna in water , drained
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese , cubed (about 1/4-inch pieces)
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• granulated sugar
• white vinegar
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Drain the macaroni.
2. Pour a mixture of 3 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar over the drained (still in the colander) macaroni.
3. Drain the macaroni (again).
4. In a large bowl mix salad macaroni, peas, baby gherkins, celery, sweet onion, tuna, cubed cheese.
5. Dressing: Take the mayo, sugar, some vinegar, salt and pepper to taste; mix into the macaroni mixture. You may want to add more dressing.
6. This is a very forgiving salad. You can sub salad shrimp, ham or chicken for the tuna or ditch the meat/fish and add some grated carrots (if using carrots you might want to cut back on the sweet pickles), diced zucchini and diced red peppers.
7. Chill, check the dressing and enjoy.

Reviews

[jjinut]

Very good warm weather dish. I used canned chicken and pasta shells. We will have this again.

[Chef #433588]

Great recipe - taste is just about perfect. I think next time I'll use a little less sugar and more dressing. I put in extra onions on accident, but I think the amount the recipe calls for would be perfect.