Frog Eye Salad

When it comes to retro recipes, it’s not uncommon to come across one that seems a little, well… odd. And this one might strike you that way as soon as you read the name. Frog Eye Salad?! Luckily, there are no actual frog eyes involved, just a handful of ingredients that make for a sweet and creamy dessert salad that’s plenty nostalgic but still has its place in the present day.

So what’s this business about frog eyes? Well, it gets that name because the little spheres of round pasta (more on that in a minute) look like tiny frog eyes in the bowl. Cute, right? And a little weird too.

Are you now thinking, there’s pasta in a dessert salad? Because I know I was. It’s true. This salad incorporates acini de pepe pasta and a handful of other ingredients that you might recognize from ambrosia. So you get little balls of chewy pasta, mandarin oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut, all folded into a sweet pineapple custard. (And of course there’s Cool Whip. Would this even be a retro salad without Cool Whip?)

Please continue to Next Page (>) for the full list of ingredients and complete cooking instructions.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 oz acini de pepe pasta
• 2 (20 oz each) cans pineapple tidbits, drained and juice reserved
• 1 (20 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 8 oz cool whip, thawed

PREPARATION

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside to cool.
2. To a large mixing bowl, add the drained mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits. Set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 3/4 cup of the reserved pineapple juice and the granulated sugar. Whisk over medium heat until dissolved.
4. Add beaten eggs and flour. Heat mixture to 170°F, whisking constantly. Mixture will thicken to a custard consistency after 10-20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
5. Once cool, add to bowl with fruit. Add marshmallows and coconut and stir to combine. Cover and chill at least 6 hours and preferably overnight.
6. When ready to serve, stir in the cool whip. Top with additional coconut and marshmallows if desired. Enjoy!