Description
A tangy and creamy dill pickle pasta salad featuring fusilli noodles tossed in a flavorful dressing of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, fresh dill, and pickle juice, complemented by sweet pickle relish and cubed Havarti cheese. Perfect for summer picnics, potlucks, or easy gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb Fusilli Noodles
Dressing
- 1 cup Mayonnaise (Duke’s preferred)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 large Garlic Clove (grated)
- 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Fresh Dill (roughly chopped)
- 1 teaspoon White Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt (plus more to taste)
- Black Pepper (fresh cracked, to taste)
- 2 tablespoons Pickle Juice (or more, to taste)
Add-ins
- 3 tablespoons Sweet Pickle Relish
- 2 cups Dill Pickles (chopped)
- 8 oz Havarti Cheese (cut into cubes, Roth or similar quality)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fusilli according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, grated garlic, apple cider vinegar, chopped dill, sugar, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine pasta and pickles: Add the cooled pasta and chopped dill pickles to the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold the ingredients to evenly coat the noodles with the dressing.
- Adjust dressing consistency: Pour in the pickle juice starting with 2 tablespoons to loosen the dressing, stirring gently. Add more pickle juice if desired to enhance creaminess or flavor.
- Add cheese and season: Stir in the cubed Havarti cheese. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate until ready to serve for the flavors to meld, or enjoy immediately as a quick and refreshing snack.
Notes
- For best flavor, refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- If you prefer a tangier salad, add extra pickle juice or a splash of lemon juice.
- Use high-quality Havarti cheese for a creamy, mild flavor contrast.
- This pasta salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Feel free to swap fusilli for other short pasta shapes like rotini or elbow macaroni.
