Vegan Macaroni Salad Recipe
Most vegan macaroni salad recipes use store-bought vegan mayo, but this one? We went a little rogue. Our version uses a creamy, nut-free silken tofu dressing that’s packed with flavor and pantry-friendly to boot. Plus, it’s easy to adjust for oil-free diets without sacrificing taste or texture!
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni uncooked
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup minced red onion
- 1/2 cup diced pickles patted dry (dill or sweet)
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup minced jalapeno
- 8 oz extra firm tofu diced (optional)
For the dressing:
- 8 oz silken tofu highly recommend MoriNu silken tofu for the best texture
- 4 oz extra firm tofu
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil or use 4 more oz silken tofu for oil-free
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp pickle juice dill or sweet
- 2 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp kala namak optional for eggy flavor
- ½ tsp celery salt
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni elbows in salted water until just al dente.
- When finished, drain the pasta and run under cold water to cool completely. Let it sit in the strainer for a few minutes so that all water drains.
- Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a blender or small food processor on high speed for at least 60 full seconds until it is smooth and shiny. The shiny part is important because it means you’ve emulsified the ingredients properly!
- To a very large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta, bell peppers, red onion, pickles, celery, jalapeno, and diced tofu. Pour on the dressing and stir to combine fully.
- Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 2-4 hours. This will give the flavors time to develop and let the pasta soak up some of that dressing!
- Once refrigerated, uncover and give it another good stir with a rubber spatula, so everything is well-coated in the dressing. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking!
- Serve cold and enjoy!
Notes
- Drain your pasta well. Water left on the noodles can water down your dressing!
- Don’t skip the chill time. It’s essential for the flavors to develop and the dressing to thicken.
- Adjust seasoning after chilling. The flavor evolves over time, and what seems just-right before chilling might need a tweak after.
- Make it your own! Swap in gluten-free pasta, a little extra jalapeño, or sweet pickles if you’re craving that sweet deli-style vibe.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/8 the recipeCalories: 386kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 12gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 880mgPotassium: 336mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 405IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!