Macaroni salad is a type of pasta salad also referred to as "mac salad", served cold, made with cooked elbow macaroni and usually prepared with mayonnaise. Like any dish, national and regional variations abound
By country
Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, it is commonly known as pasta salad, which is usually made with cooked shell pasta pieces and bought from supermarket delis.
Philippines
In the Philippines, macaroni salad is a dessert or appetizer with a mildly sweet flavor. It does not use onions, pepper, or celery. It typically uses native sweetened jellies, cheese, as well as various fruits in contrast to western macaroni salads. It is commonly consumed during holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Day, as well as parties and gatherings. A common variant adds shredded chicken and is known as chicken salad or chicken macaroni salad.
United States
In the United States, macaroni salad has been described as a "deli staple". In Puerto Rico, macaroni salad may contain mayonnaise, mustard, canned tuna or bits of Spam, onions, Cubanelle peppers and pimentos.
See also
- List of pasta dishes
- List of salads
- Pasta salad
- Sopas
- Filipino spaghetti
- Garbage Plate