Our peas and pasta salad post has long been one of the most popular recipes on Life’s A Tomato. We make it often, and while browsing Paul Kirk’s Championship Barbecue I found his Creole pasta salad recipe. It sounded perfect: crisp celery, briny olives and a tangy buttermilk dressing. I made a few small tweaks and prepared a large batch. It was fantastic—especially the next day, when the olives had time to meld with the dressing and the whole salad developed a subtle salty olive note.
Don’t Fear The Leftovers
If the salad seems a bit dry the next day, stir in a little extra buttermilk or mayonnaise and mix well. That refreshes the texture and brings the flavors back to life.
Paul Kirk’s book contains a wealth of recipes—from sauces and smoked meats to salads like this one. It’s a great resource if you enjoy barbecue and Southern-inspired dishes.
In many of my salads I use Blue Plate mayonnaise; I find it gives the right flavor and texture. If you don’t find it locally, you can order it online or use a comparable full-flavored mayonnaise.
Also try my Mardis Gras pasta salad and another version of my Creole pasta salad for different takes on this classic Southern side.
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Deluxe Creole Macaroni Salad
Equipment
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Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
For the salad
- 1 pound elbow macaroni cooked, drained, rinsed
- 2 cups tomatoes seeded, diced (optional)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese cubed
- ½ cup celery diced
- ½ cup sweet onion diced
- ½ cup green bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup pimento-stuffed green olives sliced
For the dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning optional, adjust to taste
Instructions
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Combine all of the salad ingredients in a very large bowl.
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Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until smooth.
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Pour the dressing over the salad and gently stir to combine, coating the ingredients evenly.
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Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate.