A deli side-dish favorite, macaroni salad is a gimme on every table in America come summertime. Everyone has a favorite recipe—some contain ham, some peppers, some bacon, and some peas. But all contain high-fat mayonnaise and white pasta, a fundamentally bad combo. White pasta is replaced here with whole-wheat shells, and the high-fat mayo with low-fat mayo. I added a few bits and pieces, like smoked paprika, to give it some personality.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4

　　4 ounces whole-grain shells or elbow macaroni

　　2/3 cup Rocco’s Magnificent Mayonnaise (page 200) or store-bought low-fat mayonnaise, such as Hellmann’s Low-Fat Mayonnaise Dressing

　　1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika

　　1 medium carrot, shredded

　　2 celery stalks, sliced thin on the diagonal

　　1/2 red bell pepper, cut into small dice

　　1/2 bunch scallions (white and green parts), sliced thin on the diagonal

　　Salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shells and cook according to the package directions, 6 to 9 minutes; drain. Rinse the pasta in cool water. Drain again and let it cool completely.

　　

Step 2

Combine the mayonnaise and paprika in a large bowl. Add the cooled pasta and the carrot, celery, bell pepper, and scallions. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Chill, covered, until cold, about 2 hours.

　　

nutrition information

Step 3

Fat: 26g (before), 3.8g (after)

　　

Step 4

Calories: 360 (before), 171 (after)

　　

Step 5

Protein: 6g

　　

Step 6

Carbohydrates: 30g

　　

Step 7

Cholesterol: 8mg

　　

Step 8

Fiber: 5g

　　

Step 9

Sodium: 258mg

　　Now Eat This by Rocco DiSpirito. Copyright © 2010 by Rocco DiSpirito. Published by Random House Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Hailed as the "Leading Chef of his Generation" by Gourmet magazine, Rocco DiSpirito received the James Beard Award for his first cookbook, Flavor. He went on to author Rocco's Italian-American (2004), Rocco's Five Minute Flavor (2005), Rocco's Real-Life Recipes (2007), and Rocco Gets Real (2009). DiSpirito also starred in the Food Network series Melting Pot, the NBC hit reality series The Restaurant, and the A&E series Rocco Gets Real.