Mac Salad & Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
Mac Salad & Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
Ingredients
For the Mac Salad
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1/2 sweet onion, grated
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Kewpie mayonnaise, or use regular mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon chicken powder
- 2 stalks green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon milk, up to 2 tablespoons
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
For the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
- 20-30 jumbo shrimp, cleaned and split
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, more if you like spicy
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons garlic, minced (about 20 cloves)
- 1 lemon
- as needed neutral oil, for frying
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
Instructions
- 1
For the Mac Salad: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook for 3-4 minutes longer than the package directions, ensuring the noodles are very soft.
⏱️ 15 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, prepare the Mac Salad dressing. In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated carrot, grated sweet onion, mayonnaise, Kewpie mayonnaise (or additional regular mayonnaise), rice vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, granulated sugar, chicken powder, and sliced green onions. Mix well.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Once the macaroni is cooked, drain it and rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch. Fold the rinsed macaroni into the prepared dressing mixture.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Add a splash of milk (1-2 tablespoons) to the mac salad and stir to achieve a creamy consistency. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes while you prepare the shrimp, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
For the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp: In a shallow dish, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic salt. Mix well.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Dredge the cleaned and split jumbo shrimp in the dry ingredient mixture, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add enough neutral oil to coat the bottom. Once the oil is hot, add the coated shrimp in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the shrimp for approximately 2 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
⏱️ 8 min
- 8
Remove the cooked shrimp from the pan and set aside on a plate. In the same pan (without cleaning it), reduce the heat to medium and add the butter and minced garlic.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Sauté the butter and garlic for 1-2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the pan with the butter and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Turn off the heat. Return the fried shrimp to the pan and toss immediately, ensuring every piece is well coated with the garlic butter sauce. This allows the flavors to fully soak in.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Serve the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp immediately alongside the chilled Mac Salad.
Kitchen Tools
Mac Salad & Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
For the Mac Salad
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1/2 sweet onion, grated
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Kewpie mayonnaise, or use regular mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon chicken powder
- 2 stalks green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon milk, up to 2 tablespoons
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
For the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
- 20-30 jumbo shrimp, cleaned and split
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, more if you like spicy
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons garlic, minced (about 20 cloves)
- 1 lemon
- as needed neutral oil, for frying
- as needed salt
- as needed black pepper
Instructions
- 1
For the Mac Salad: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook for 3-4 minutes longer than the package directions, ensuring the noodles are very soft.
⏱️ 15 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, prepare the Mac Salad dressing. In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated carrot, grated sweet onion, mayonnaise, Kewpie mayonnaise (or additional regular mayonnaise), rice vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, granulated sugar, chicken powder, and sliced green onions. Mix well.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Once the macaroni is cooked, drain it and rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch. Fold the rinsed macaroni into the prepared dressing mixture.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add a splash of milk (1-2 tablespoons) to the mac salad and stir to achieve a creamy consistency. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes while you prepare the shrimp, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
For the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp: In a shallow dish, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic salt. Mix well.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Dredge the cleaned and split jumbo shrimp in the dry ingredient mixture, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add enough neutral oil to coat the bottom. Once the oil is hot, add the coated shrimp in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the shrimp for approximately 2 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
⏱️ 8 min - 8
Remove the cooked shrimp from the pan and set aside on a plate. In the same pan (without cleaning it), reduce the heat to medium and add the butter and minced garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Sauté the butter and garlic for 1-2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the pan with the butter and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Turn off the heat. Return the fried shrimp to the pan and toss immediately, ensuring every piece is well coated with the garlic butter sauce. This allows the flavors to fully soak in.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Serve the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp immediately alongside the chilled Mac Salad.