Pro Tips
**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Cook pasta in generously salted boiling water — it should taste seasoned on its own.
- Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Pat all salad ingredients completely dry so the dressing clings evenly.
- For fried chicken, let the coated pieces rest for 10 minutes before frying so the breading adheres better.
Cooking Tips
Blanch leafy vegetables in boiling salted water for 30–60 seconds, then plunge into ice water. This locks in their bright color and crisp texture. Add vegetables in stages — hard vegetables (carrots, potatoes) go in first, tender ones (leafy greens, beansprouts) at the very end.
Ingredient Substitutions
Chicken alternatives: Pork shoulder or boneless thigh meat can substitute for chicken in stews. For lighter fare, extra-firm tofu or seitan works in stir-fries and braises. Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
Ham and Chicken Macaroni Salad
Elbow macaroni is tossed in a creamy Lady's Choice mayonnaise dressing with cubed ham, shredded chicken breast, sweet pickle relish, pineapple tidbits, diced carrots, and celery for a classic cold pasta salad with sweet and savory notes.
Instructions
- Boil water in a cooking pot. Add 1 teaspoon of salt. Put the chicken into the pot. Cover and continue boiling in medium heat setting for 16 to 18 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool down. Dice it once the temperature is manageable.
- Continue boiling the chicken stock (this is the water used to boil the chicken) and add the elbow macaroni. Cook it according to package instructions. Drain the chicken stock and place the macaroni on a large mixing bowl.
- Combine all the dressing ingredients. Mix well. Set aside.
- Combine macaroni, ham, chicken, onion, celery, green peas, pickle relish, pineapple tidbits, and carrots. Toss.
- Add in the dressing and continue tossing until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Serve chilled.
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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
- Cook pasta in generously salted boiling water — it should taste seasoned on its own.
- Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Pat all salad ingredients completely dry so the dressing clings evenly.
- For fried chicken, let the coated pieces rest for 10 minutes before frying so the breading adheres better.
Cooking Tips
Add vegetables in stages — hard vegetables (carrots, potatoes) go in first, tender ones (leafy greens, beansprouts) at the very end.
Substitutions
Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.
Storage & Reheating
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
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