2English cucumbers,cut into half moons (2 cups; 260g)
1green bell pepper,finely chopped (1 cup; 135g)
2regularcelery ribs,finely chopped (3/4 cup; 93g)
1/2large red onion,finely chopped (1 cup; 135g)
1package (14-16 oz; 454g)coleslaw mixNote 1
DRESSING
1 and 1/2cups (300g)mayonnaiserecommended: Best Foods/Hellman’s
1/4cup (50g)granulated sugarNote 2
1/4cup (57g)apple cider vinegar
1/2teaspoonfine sea salt
1/4teaspoonpepper
1/2teaspoongarlic powder
1tablespoon (17g)fresh lemon juice
Instructions
MACARONI NOODLES: Make the pasta as directed on the package. (Only cook 2 cups; do not cook the entire box.) The salad will taste bland overall if you don’t salt the water liberally (I add one teaspoon to every 4 cups). Pasta should be drained, rinsed in cold water, and then put back into the dry pot it was cooked in. After tossing them with apple cider vinegar, let the noodles completely cool.
VEGGIE PREP: In the interim, get the vegetables ready. English cucumbers should have removed about an inch of each end (this part is bitter). Cut each cucumber in half, then into moon-shaped pieces. Red onion and green pepper should be chopped finely.
ASSEMBLY: Add the noodles to a sizable bowl once they have cooled. Stir in the coleslaw dressing. Place the celery, red onion, green pepper, and cucumbers on top.
DRESSING: In the meantime, combine the dressing’s components in a small dish. Combine by whisking. If serving the entire batch of salad on the same day (See Note 3), pour over the salad and toss to coat all the components evenly. Before serving, chill the mixture well in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and no more than an hour. Just before serving, toss, then check for more seasonings if necessary. Salad is best eaten the same day it is dressed.
Notes
Note 1: Coleslaw mix is simply a prepackaged coleslaw purchased from a store (shredded cabbage and carrots). Most coleslaw mixes can be found in the grocery store’s vegetable area next to other pre-packaged salad mixes.
Note 2: Sugar: Start with less and gradually add more to taste if you’re concerned about sweetness.
Note 3: This pasta salad does not keep well with the dressing after a day. The noodles will inflate as they continue to absorb dressing liquid, giving the salad an unattractive texture. Additionally, the vegetables become mushy, and the salad gets watery. If making it ahead of time, refrigerate the salad and dressing separately and combine them just before serving. Do not exceed serving sizes for meals.
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