French Macaroni Salad

Elevate your next picnic or potluck with the vibrant flavors of French Macaroni Salad, a delightful twist on a classic comfort dish. This recipe balances creamy mayonnaise with the tangy zest of Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar, while a touch of honey adds subtle sweetness. Packed with fresh crunch from chopped celery, red bell pepper, and red onion, and infused with the aromatic touch of parsley and dill, this salad is both refreshing and satisfying. Perfectly cooked elbow macaroni serves as the base, soaking up the well-seasoned dressing for an irresistibly flavorful bite. Ready in just 25 minutes and best served chilled, this French-inspired pasta salad is an effortless crowd-pleaser that’s ideal for summer gatherings or family dinners.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 300 grams elbow macaroni
• 120 grams mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pieces celery stalks (chopped)
• 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
• 0.5 medium red onion (finely chopped)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.

Step 3

Add the cooked and cooled macaroni to the dressing in the mixing bowl. Toss gently to coat the pasta evenly.

Step 4

Fold in the chopped celery, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, fresh parsley, and fresh dill. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

Step 5

Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper, if needed.

Step 6

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Before serving, give the salad a stir and garnish with additional parsley or dill, if desired.

Step 8

Serve chilled and enjoy your French-inspired macaroni salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	799.1 grams (799.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2462

Total Fat 126.40g	162%
Saturated Fat 12.30g	62%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.70g
Cholesterol 118mg	39%
Sodium 3403mg	148%
Total Carbohydrate 276.90g	101%
Dietary Fiber 16.30g	58%
Total Sugars 26.70g
Protein 45.80g	92%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 76mg	6%
Iron 12mg	68%
Potassium 694mg	15%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 46.8%

Protein: 7.5%

Carbs: 45.6%