Danish Macaroni Salad with Ham
Creamy, satisfying, and bursting with vibrant flavors, Danish Macaroni Salad with Ham is the ultimate crowd-pleasing dish for any occasion. This classic recipe combines tender al dente elbow macaroni with savory diced ham, crisp celery, and sweet red bell peppers, all coated in a luscious dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and a hint of white wine vinegar for tangy balance. A sprinkle of fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness to the mix. Perfectly chilled and packed with texture, this salad is a versatile side dish or light main course, ideal for picnics, barbecues, or potlucks. Quick to prepare and deeply flavorful, it’s a go-to option for effortless entertaining or easy weeknight meals.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 250 grams elbow macaroni
- 200 grams ham (diced)
- 120 grams mayonnaise
- 80 grams sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 celery stalks (diced)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 0.5 red onion (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then set aside to cool completely.
While the pasta cools, prepare the dressing. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and ground black pepper until smooth and well combined.
Add the cooled macaroni to the dressing and gently toss to coat.
Add the diced ham, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and chopped parsley to the macaroni mixture. Stir gently to combine, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve chilled as a side dish or a light main course. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2432 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 120.6 g | 155% | |
| Saturated Fat | 21.9 g | 110% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 258 mg | 86% | |
| Sodium | 5604 mg | 244% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 245.9 g | 89% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.6 g | 56% | |
| Total Sugars | 30.9 g | ||
| Protein | 83.7 g | 167% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 240 mg | 18% | |
| Iron | 11.6 mg | 64% | |
| Potassium | 1396 mg | 30% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
