Everyone needs a great macaroni salad recipe for barbecue season! This vegan version is easy to prepare and makes enough to feed a crowd. Use your favorite pasta or add in any vegetables or herbs that you please to customize to your nutrition needs and taste.
Pasta: Endless possibilities for your unique nutritional needs
We chose regular semolina pasta for this recipe because it has an ideal texture for cold pasta salad. If you are following a very low protein diet, Flavis pasta is a great stand-in. Gluten-free pasta can also be a great lower protein substitution but may affect the texture of the dish. Read on for tips and tricks to swap regular pasta for gluten-free pasta without compromising the texture and flavor!
Gluten-free pasta
If you plan to use a gluten-free pasta, we recommend eating this salad the same day. However, if you need to make this dish ahead, for best results cook the pasta until tender (not al dente) because it will continue to harden as it cools in the fridge. Letting your salad come to room temperature can also help with the texture changes that can occur with gluten-free pasta.
Brown rice or corn based pasta are great options when limiting protein. Keep in mind that some gluten-free pasta may have a higher amount of protein.
Legume or whole grain pasta
Not restricting protein? If you are on dialysis, you know how important getting enough protein is! Using a legume based pasta is an easy solution to increase the protein content of this recipe. Chickpea pasta clocks in at about 13 grams of protein per 2 ounce serving compared to 7 grams of protein in regular semolina pasta. Whole grain pasta has a similar amount of protein compared to regular semolina pasta.
Wondering if whole grain and legume based pasta is safe for kidney disease? It’s true that whole grains and legumes are a good sources of vitamins and minerals, including potassium and phosphorus. Fortunately, the phosphorus found in plant foods is not fully absorbed.
We all have unique nutrition needs, therefore, restricting potassium is not necessary for everyone. A Renal Dietitian can help you determine how much potassium is right for you.
Vegan Mayo
You may have noticed that we use vegan mayo in many of our recipes. There are lots of store-bought options to choose from, it may take some trial and error to find your favorite brand. Or, consider making your own!
Hungry for more information about how we use the power of nutrition to support kidney health?
We are here to help! Join our monthly class to find out how we use the power of nutrition to help preserve kidney function. If you prefer a one-to one setting, consider booking a consultation with one of our expert Renal Dietitians.
Quick and Easy Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups macaroni dry
- 3 medium carrots diced into ¼-inch cubes (about 1½ cups)
- 1 ½ cups frozen peas
- 1 red bell pepper deseeded and diced into ¼-inch cubes
- ½ red onion diced
Dressing:
- 3/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup coconut milk yogurt
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni in a pot of boiling water according to package directions. About 5 minutes before macaroni is finished cooking, add diced carrots. About 2 minutes later, add frozen peas just to warm through for another 2-3 minutes or until the macaroni and vegetables are all tender. Drain thoroughly and place in a large mixing bowl.
- To the same mixing bowl, add diced bell peppers and red onion. Toss to combine.
- In a small bowl, add all of the dressing ingredients. Whisk well to combine and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Pour dressing over pasta and vegetables. Toss to combine and serve immediately or let chill for 1-2 hours before serving.
Note:
- Macaroni salad will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Add in any and as much of your favorite vegetables into this salad.
Nutrition
KidneyRD Verdict:
This recipe is my new go to dish to bring to a potluck, picnic, or barbecue! It was a hit in my home and has been requested several times. I tried this recipe once as is and then a second time customized it by omitting the raw onion and even added some fresh dill. No matter which way you spin it, this dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser! The best part is that its incredibly easy to prepare and made a generous amount.
ALL information you read on KidneyRD.com is purely for informational and educational purposes. Information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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