Recipe Background
Famous Coleslaw Salad adds a twist with pasta, perfect for BBQs.
Hosting a backyard barbecue for my neighbors seemed like a simple idea until I realized I barely knew any of them. Having lived in the city most of my life, moving to a close-knit suburban street felt both thrilling and daunting. I decided that my big introduction wouldn’t hinge on a main dish but rather on a side that could stand out. Enter the Famous Coleslaw Salad. It was an unassuming blend of familiar ingredients I had lying around like mayonnaise and sugar, which provided the perfect creamy sweetness.
Coincidentally, I had just mastered the art of cooking pasta al dente—a culinary achievement my college roommates would never have believed. Adding cooked, chilled pasta to the coleslaw mix seemed like a quirky twist, breaking the norm of a traditional leafy version. I remembered to rinse the pasta well; otherwise, it tends to cling together like an unruly group of middle schoolers.
For a burst of color and flavor, finely diced red onions and thinly sliced English cucumbers found their way into the mix. After tossing everything in that apple cider-spiked dressing, I let it chill overnight, a tip worth its weight in gold for allowing flavors to fully meld. By barbecue day, I had my fears quelled and a bowl of crisp, refreshing salad ready to win over my new neighbors. Spoiler alert: it did just that, sparking conversations and connections that turned strangers into friends.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the salad:
- 8 ounces small pasta
- 1 (14-ounce) package coleslaw mix
- 1 red onion finely diced
- 1 English cucumber thinly sliced
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, granulated sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions.
- Drain the water and rinse the pasta with cold water. Set aside.
- Add the cooked pasta, coleslaw mix, red onions, and cucumbers to the dressing mixture.
- Toss to coat all the ingredients with the dressing.
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Serve.
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