Gluten Free Vegan Macaroni Salad
By Emily Buys of Clever Housewife
Loaded with vibrant veggies and a creamy vegan sauce this gluten free vegan macaroni salad is perfect for any sunny day occasion.
Spring is in full force with flowers blooming, sunny days and the promise of picnics and barbecues. As the days start to heat up it's common to switch up the menu for salads and all things from the garden. Green salads or pasta salads - they're both excellent for warm days. This vegan macaroni salad is the perfect BBQ side and a great way to use up some garden veggies.
One of the great things about macaroni salad is how customizable it is. If you need a pasta salad that's gluten-free, just opt for a gluten-free noodle like I did. Regular noodles work great too! You can totally change up the included vegetables to whatever you have on hand and it'll still be great.
This version of macaroni salad has just the right amount of crunch from garden fresh veggies and the perfect dose of creaminess. When cooking with vegetables I love adding as many colors of the rainbow as I can. I find this pasta salad to be a beautiful display of wholesomeness while providing that creamy goodness that tastes like it just might not be good for you. But it is!
I use vegan mayo, but you can totally make your own sauce from any combination of cashews, tahini, vegan sour cream or vegan plain yogurt. I like the ease of an already-made vegan mayo and then I doctor it up with what I deem to be the perfect amount of complementary flavors. A little pickle juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard and dill (or parsley) make for a great addition to the mayo. What's great is if you are out of one thing or another, you can just add more of what you do have!
The ingredients in this vegan macaroni salad are:
gluten-free macaroni or any short pasta
celery
red bell pepper
red onion
carrots
olives
dill relish
Vegan mayo
pickle juice
apple cider vinegar
Dijon mustard
dill (parsley works too)
sugar
salt
Some other great add-ins:
peas
corn
coconut bacon
Vegan cheddar cheese
Making gluten-free vegan macaroni salad takes no time at all. Simply boil the pasta until al dente (in the case of this gluten-free macaroni it takes only 3-4 minutes). While the pasta is cooking, prepare vegetables and dressing and toss everything together! This is the perfect dish to take to a potluck, pool party or any barbecue.
Gluten-Free Vegan Macaroni Salad
Ingredients:
8 oz gluten-free macaroni
1 ribs celery, minced
1/2 red bell pepper, minced
1/4 cup red onion, minced
1/4 cup minced carrots
1/3 cup olives, sliced
1/4 cup dill relish
1 Tbs dried dill or parsley (or 1/4 cup fresh)
Dressing:
1 cup vegan mayo
2 Tbs pickle juice
3 Tbs apple cider vinegar
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
1 Tbs sugar
1 tsp salt
Instructions:
Boil water and cook pasta per the instructions on the package. While pasta is cooking, prepare vegetables and dressing.
Drain pasta and rinse with cool water. Toss together with dressing and vegetables. Refrigerate until ready to eat.
