Description
Cool Italian-inspired deviled egg pasta salad blends classic picnic favorites into one creamy side dish. Southern comfort meets gourmet flavor with tangy mayo, mustard, and herb-infused pasta perfect for summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
- 12 ounces (340 grams) elbow macaroni
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) diced pickles or pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook macaroni in a generously salted, rapidly boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water to arrest cooking and prevent clumping.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk together mayonnaise, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes creamy and thoroughly integrated.
- Ingredient Assembly: Dice hard-boiled eggs and pickles into consistent, bite-sized pieces. Incorporate the chopped ingredients into the prepared dressing, gently folding to ensure each component is evenly coated without damaging the delicate pasta or egg structures.
- Flavor Melding: Refrigerate the pasta salad in a sealed container for at least one hour, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify. This resting period enables the ingredients to develop a harmonious and robust taste profile.
- Presentation: Prior to serving, sprinkle additional paprika across the surface and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve the pasta salad thoroughly chilled to enhance its refreshing and vibrant character.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Mushiness: Cook macaroni exactly 8-10 minutes and immediately rinse with cold water to stop cooking, maintaining perfect al dente texture.
- Egg Chopping Technique: Use a sharp knife and gentle pressure when cutting hard-boiled eggs to create clean, uniform chunks without crumbling.
- Dressing Consistency Hack: Whisk mayonnaise mixture thoroughly to eliminate lumps, ensuring a smooth, creamy coating that evenly distributes across pasta.
- Flavor Intensification Trick: Refrigerate salad for at least one hour before serving, allowing ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg