Macaroni salad is a widely popular dish in many kitchens. This hearty carbohydrates meal can be consumed as a tasty side dish to any entree. In addition, it can also be had as a main dish by incorporating other ingredients in order to make it a complete meal. Here are just a few of the delicious twists that can transform a macaroni salad into a special treat.
Roasted squash
This dish is excellent for the fall season. And because squash is quite plentiful during this time of the year, it makes it the perfect dish to warm the palate. Clean and chop squash into cubes. For additional flavors and textures add chopped carrots and onions. Place on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast squash and other ingredients at high heat until they are done. The roasting will bring out a rustic taste to the dish.
Add a sheet pan of roast veggies to cooked pasta. Add crumbled feta cheese to warm ingredients and watch it melt. Give a quick toss and garnish with chopped green onions. This dish is a great addition to any entree.
Sauteed vegetables
Macaroni salad can be brought to a mouthwatering dish by sauteing a variety of veggies. Some of the veggies to consider are broccoli, onions, fennel and others. Wash and finely chop veggies. Heat skillet and drizzle olive or canoli oil. Do a quick saute of veggies on medium to high heat. Make sure to season along with salt and pepper. Cook veggies to a crispy consistency. Add this to your choice of cooked pasta. Dress macaroni salad with a warm home-made salad dressing of red wine vinegar with a pinch of sugar, olive oil and a pinch of sugar.
Add protein
Make macaroni salad the king of the meal by making it an entree meal. This could be done by adding a protein and some crispy vegetables. Add left-over chicken, turkey, and/or cheese by cutting in cubes. Add shredded carrots along with green onions. Add an extra punch of flavor by including chopped sun-ripped tomatoes or bell peppers. Add protein and veggie ingredients to cooked macaroni. Dress salad with a light mayonnaise dressing and toss. Serve warm or room temperature.
To get a different layer of flavor and texture, add crispy bacon along with dried fruits. Dried fruits can be cherries, cranberries or raisins.
Garden medley
Bring summer to the table by adding a delicious twist to your macaroni salad. Incorporate a variety of fresh garden vegetables. Some of the veggies that could be added are lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumber and others. Dress macaroni salad with a dressing made from orange juice, olive oil along with salt and pepper to taste.
Make your macaroni salad more nutritious by using whole wheat pasta. The whole wheat version is complex and will not spike the glucose level in the body the way the white pasta does. Also, while boiling pasta, make sure to season generously with salt as this is the best time to gain flavor to same. Buon appetito!