Description
Gordon Ramsay’s Macaroni Salad is a refreshing and flavorful side dish featuring al dente macaroni noodles tossed with colorful vegetables, diced hard-boiled eggs, and a creamy tangy dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, and sweet pickle juice. Perfectly chilled to meld the bright and savory flavors, this salad makes an excellent accompaniment to any meal or picnic.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 8 oz dry macaroni noodles
- ½ cup diced sweet gherkins
- ¾ cup diced red bell pepper
- â…“ cup sliced celery
- â…“ cup diced red onion
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, diced
Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp sweet pickle juice
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni: Cook the macaroni noodles in salted boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down completely.
- Combine vegetables and eggs: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled macaroni noodles along with the diced sweet gherkins, red bell pepper, sliced celery, diced red onion, and diced hard-boiled eggs. Gently toss to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, sweet pickle juice, red wine vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Toss macaroni with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the macaroni and vegetable mixture. Gently fold the ingredients together to coat the macaroni and veggies uniformly with the dressing without breaking them up.
- Chill before serving: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least one hour. This resting time allows the flavors to blend and the salad to become nicely chilled, enhancing its taste and texture before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to rinse the cooked macaroni under cold water to prevent it from sticking and to cool it for the salad.
- Adjust sugar and vinegar according to taste to reach the perfect balance of tangy and sweet.
- For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Chilling the salad is crucial for the best flavor; ideally, prepare it a few hours ahead or the day before serving.
- You can garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or chives for added freshness and color.
