In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk until well combined. Set aside.
Salad
In a large pot, bring salty water to a boil. Prepare macaroni al dente (just until fork tender). Strain and run cold water over the pasta to shock it.
Pour macaroni into a large bowl. Stir or gently toss with vegetables, optional herbs and dressing (reserve ¼ cup and refrigerate). Allow to refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
Toss with reserved dressing just before serving and salt and pepper to taste. Serve cold.
Video
Notes
Variations
Add carrots, eggs, bacon, ham, chicken, the options are endless.
Tips
Prepare Pasta Al Dente – Pasta should be cooked, but firm. This prevents it from getting gummy, soggy or falling apart. If you throw a noodle against the wall and it sticks, it’s prepared al dente. Taste test a noodle to ensure it has a firm bite.
Shock Pasta – Shocking the pasta with cold water prevents the pasta from continuing to cook so that noodles don’t become soggy or fall apart.
Marinate – For the best macaroni salad, refrigerate with dressing. This makes it incredibly flavorful because the dressing infuses with the noodles and all the flavors meld. Just before serving, salt and pepper to taste.