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    Oh My Veggies » Vegan Recipes » Vegan Side Dishes

    Vegan Macaroni Salad (Without Mayo)

    Published: Mar 12, 2021 · by Nicole · Updated: May 18, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This vegan macaroni salad without mayo is so easy to make! With tofu 'feta' and lots of fresh vegetables, it's ideal for a summer dinner or side dish. Super flavourful and meal prep-friendly, too!

    Vegan macaroni salad without mayo

    Macaroni is amazing. Salads are amazing, too. Put them together? Even better! Hence, I can hopefully make your day a little bit better with this macaroni salad, that's 100% dairy-free and super easy to make.

    This is an incredibly versatile recipe. You can serve it as a light lunch, dinner, or side dish. Not going to lie, I like to keep some in the fridge to snack on! Try it out for yourself and see exactly why I'm hyping it up so much. You won't be disappointed!

    Bowl of vegan pasta with tofu feta and vegetables

    Vegan macaroni salad without mayo

    You'll be surprised at how easy it is to make a vegan macaroni salad without mayo! I know that vegan mayonnaise isn't always accessible, so I wanted to make a simpler recipe with a homemade dressing that certainly doesn't miss any flavour.

    Vegan pasta salad with tofu feta and vegetables

    You need just a handful of ingredients to make the dressing: olive oil, salt, balsamic glaze (or vinegar), maple syrup, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice. That's it!

    The result is tangy and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness from the maple syrup, and also a savoury undertone due to the addition of nutritional yeast. You can serve this macaroni salad immediately, while the macaroni is still warm. Alternatively, leave it in the fridge to chill for a few hours. It's a well-know fact that pasta salads can taste even better the next day!

    Dairy-free macaroni salad

    I added capers and pumpkin seeds right at the end for some crunch and extra tanginess. And whenever I make this salad, you can see me eating it straight from the salad bowl!

    Tofu 'feta'

    The tofu feta here is a great addition which really takes the macaroni salad to the next level. I made something similar for my cold spaghetti salad, and I can say it just never gets old. Tofu really is an amazing, versatile ingredient!

    Ingredients for tofu feta
    Tofu feta in a mixing bowl

    All you need to do is marinade it in tamari, dried basil, dried thyme and apple cider vinegar for at least 30 minutes. I'd recommend leaving it in the fridge overnight, however, for the best flavour. Then, you add it to the salad and you're good to go!

    What vegetables do I add to macaroni salad?

    Vegetables for vegan macaroni salad

    You have a lot of choice on what you can add. A pasta salad like this is great for cleaning out the fridge! As you can see, I added red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion. But the following options would also work well:

    • Zucchini.
    • Roasted sweet potato.
    • Cabbage, either red or white.
    • Roasted squash or pumpkin.
    • Fresh greens like spinach or arugula.
    • Carrots.
    • Cauliflower.
    Bowl of vegan pasta salad with tofu feta and vegetables

    And so much more! You really can't go wrong with a versatile recipe like this.

    How to make a vegan macaroni salad without mayo

    STEP 1: Firstly, marinade the tofu. At least 30 minutes is great, but overnight is ideal.

    Vegetables and macaroni in a mixing bowl
    Macaroni, vegetables and fresh herbs in a mixing bowl

    STEP 2: Meanwhile, cook the macaroni according to packaging instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse when done.

    STEP 3: Add the pasta, vegetables and dressing ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir together really well.

    Pasta salad with tofu feta in a large mixing bowl
    Closeup of a vegan pasta salad with tofu feta

    STEP 4: Add the tofu together with the marinade, and serve with the capers and pumpkin seeds. Serve and enjoy!

    Macaroni salad storage instructions

    You can leave this salad in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. As I said, it's just as delicious served cold, so there's no need to reheat!

    Tips and substitutions

    Two bowls of vegan pasta salad with vegetables and fresh herbs
    • If you want to make a creamy vegan macaroni salad, add a few tbsps of homemade vegan sour cream.
    • To make a gluten-free pasta salad, simply use gluten-free pasta.
    • You can swap out the tofu for store-bought vegan feta.
    • Instead of capers, you can add olives or chopped pickles.
    • How about serving some flavourful zucchini bread on the side?!
    • If you want to, you can sprinkle some vegan cheese on top for extra cheesiness.
    • Adjust the amount of maple syrup and lemon juice depending on how sweet/tangy you want the flavour to be.

    Other delicious vegan side dish recipes

    • Vegan smashed potatoes with avocado sauce
    • Lemon potatoes
    • Beetroot pasta salad with green lentils
    • Cauliflower wings with almond dip
    Vegan macaroni salad without mayo

    Let me know in the comments - what's your go-to plant based side dish? If you give this vegan mayo-free macaroni salad a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies), and leave your feedback in the comments below.

    Vegan Macaroni Salad Without Mayo

    This vegan macaroni salad without mayo is ideal for a refreshing, summer side dish. With balsamic tofu and a tangy, subtly sweet dressing, it's also super easy to make in around 35 minutes.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Marinading time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: cucumber, earth of maria, nutritional yeast, tamari, to move, Tofu, tomatoes, Vegetables
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 431kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Equipment

    • Small mixing bowl
    • Saucepan
    • Large mixing bowl or salad bowl

    Ingredients

    • 10 oz extra-firm tofu cubed
    • 2 tbsp tamari
    • 1 tbsp dried basil
    • 1 tbsp dried thyme
    • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 8 oz macaroni
    • 1 large red bell pepper diced
    • 1 large green bell pepper diced
    • 1 cup diced tomatoes
    • 1 cup diced cucumber
    • 1 cup chopped cilantro
    • 1 large red onion
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
    • 1 tbsp maple syrup
    • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
    • ½ lemon juice of
    • 1 tbsp capers
    • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Add the tofu, tamari, dried basil and dried thyme to a mixing bowl. Stir together well, then marinade for 30 minutes (preferably overnight for best results).
    • Cook the macaroni according to packaging instructions.
    • Drain and rinse the macaroni, then transfer it to a large mixing bowl together with the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, cilantro, red onion, olive oil, salt, balsamic glaze, maple syrup, nutritional yeast and lemon juice. Stir together well.
    • Add the tofu together with the marinade and stir together once more.
    • Serve immediately with the capers and pumpkin seeds.

    Video

    Notes

    • This macaroni salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. 
    • Add any other vegetables of your choice. For instance, zucchini, carrots and cabbage also work well in this salad. 
    • You can replace the capers with chopped pickles or olives.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 431kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 19gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 912mgPotassium: 810mgFiber: 7gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1852IUVitamin C: 103mgCalcium: 129mgIron: 6mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

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