• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mindee's Cooking Obsession
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
×

Home » Salad Recipes » Classic Frog Eye Salad (with Video)

Classic Frog Eye Salad (with Video)

Published: Mar 14, 2022 · Modified: Mar 14, 2022 by Mindee · This post contains affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sharing is caring!

486 shares
  • Share137
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This old fashioned fruit and pasta salad speckled with sweet little marshmallows is the perfect side dish to take to a barbecue or potluck! Did I mention? It's pretty easy to make too! This creamy concoction will make you the talk of the party!

A little bowl of frog eye salad with a cherry on top!
Little bowl of this frog eye salad recipe with a cherry on top!
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
  • Related Recipes
  • Frog Eye Salad Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • This classic recipe has the perfect fruity flavor!
  • Great recipe for sharing at a summer bbq or family gatherings!
  • Despite the creepy name, this side dish is full of tiny pasta not tiny little frog eyes! (You know your kids are gonna ask...)
  • A family favorite for a holiday dinner like Easter!

Ingredient Notes

  • Whipped Topping- This recipe calls for roughly ½ a container of cool whip. You can most definitely substitute real whipped cream if you would like. You can learn how to whip your own cream here!
  • Mandarin Oranges - You'll need 11 oz mandarin oranges.
  • Acini De Pepe Pasta - Tiny balls of pasta. You'll find this in the pasta aisle.
  • Flour - Just regular all purpose.
  • Flaked Coconut - I used the sweetened kind.
  • Pineapple - You could use fresh pineapple however you will need to also buy some pineapple juice to make the pineapple curd for the salad. Crushed pineapple may also be used if you don't want chunks.
Ingredients for frog eye salad.
Just a handful of simple ingredients for this frog eye fruit salad!

Step by Step Instructions

  • Begin by preparing the pineapple curd.
  • Remember it will have to cool for about an hour before you can use it so plan accordingly.
  • Measure the ¼ cup sugar, ½ Tbs. flour and ⅛ teaspoon salt into a small pot.
Sugar, flour and salt added to a small pot.
Begin by making the pineapple curd.
  • Drain the pineapple juice into a measuring cup. You will need ½ cup pineapple juice.
  • Add the egg, yes the whole egg not just the egg yolk, to the pineapple juice and whisk them together well.
  • Pour the egg mixture in the pot with the sugar mixture and whisk together.
  • Bring to a simmer over medium high heat whisking constantly.
  • Once it thickens and coats the back of a spoon well remove from the remove and cool.
  • Sometimes I will set it over a bowl of ice to make it cool quicker.
Drain pineapple juice in to a measuring cup, whisk in egg, add to pot and bring to a simmer.
Pineapple curd is what gives this sweet salad it's delicious flavor!
  • Cook the acini de pepe according to package directions until al dente, drain and rinse under cold water.
  • Dump the cooked acini de pepe in a large bowl.  
  • Mix in the pineapple curd, followed by the whipped cream.
  • Mix in the pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and flaked coconut
  • For best results cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
  • Top with maraschino cherries and serve!
Mixed cooked acini de pepe, curd, whipped cream, pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows, and coconut.
Mix everything together to finish up this delicious frog eye salad!

Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

Why is it called Frog Eye Salad?

This is the question my kids have asked me a million times.  And the answer is that the acini di pepe pasta reminded someone at some point in time of actual frog eyes.  I know I was hoping it was a more exciting story too!

What is acini di pepe and is it the same as couscous?

Acini di pepe is small ball shaped pasta.  Couscous isn't the same and not really a good substitute for it.  They are just different enough that you won't get the results you want.

Related Recipes

  • Berries and Cream Jello Salad
  • Fluffy Lemon Jello Salad
  • Pistachio Salad
  • Fresh Fruit Salad

Have you tried this recipe?  If so, leave me a rating and a comment below! And don't forget to subscribe to get my recipes sent to your email! You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Little bowls of Frog Eye Salad

Frog Eye Salad Recipe

★★★★ 4 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Mindee
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Fruit Salad
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This classic fruit and pasta salad speckled with sweet little marshmallows is the perfect side dish to take to a barbecue or potluck!  Did I mention?   It's pretty easy to make too!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • ¼ cup Sugar
  • ½ Tbs. Flour
  • ⅛ tsp Salt
  • 2 (8 oz) Cans of Pineapple Tidbits (or crushed), undrained
  • 1 (11 oz) Can of Mandarin Oranges, drained
  • 1 Egg, beaten well
  • ⅔ cup uncooked Acini De Pepe
  • 1 cup Whipped Topping
  • 1 ½ cups Mini Marshmallows
  • ¼ cup Flaked Coconut
  • 1 small Jar Maraschino Cherries (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a small pot or saucepan, whisk together the sugar, flour, and salt.
  2. Drain the pineapple tidbits reserving the pineapple juice.  You should get ½ cup juice.
  3. Whisk in the ½ Cup Pineapple Juice and well beaten egg.
  4. Over medium heat while whisking constantly bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Once it thickens remove it from the heat to cool to room temperature.
  6. In a new pot, cook the acini de pepe according to package directions. 
  7. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  8. Dump the cooked acini de pepe in a mixing bowl.
  9. Mix in the pineapple curd and whipped topping
  10. Fold in the pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and flaked coconut. 
  11. If you choose you can chop up the maraschino cherries and mix them in as well.
  12. Chill for 2 hours before serving.
  13. Top with maraschino cherries for garnish if desired.

Notes

  • Whipped Topping can be replaced with homemade whipped cream.  Just whip ½ cup heavy cream to stiff peaks and use just like you would the whipped topping.
  • Sometimes I place the pot of hot curd over a bowl of ice to cool it faster.

Keywords: acini di pepe pasta salad, fruit salad, frog eye salad,

Did you make this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram @mindeescooking and hashtag it #mindeescookingobsession

Thanks for stopping by! Before you go, be sure to check out a few of my most popular recipes!

  • Lemon Swirl Cheesecake
  • Barbecue Ranch Pasta Salad
  • Black Tie Mousse Cake
  • Mini German Pancakes
  • Homemade White Bread

Any nutritional analysis on this Site is based on an estimate, calculated by Nurtifox plugin (or other third-party source) from the individual ingredients in each recipe. Variations may occur for various reasons, including product availability and food preparation. We make no representation or warranty of the accuracy of this information.  

« Fluffy Lemon Jello Salad
Best Salmon Piccata Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jeff

    November 27, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    Not one of my favorites but this has very good flavor

    ★★★★

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Mindee! Not only do I love to try and create all kinds of recipes, I LOVE to share them! Teaching others how to be successful in cooking in their own kitchens is one of my favorite things to do! Learn more about me or jump right in and check out my recipes!

Follow Me On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Best Side Salads

A southern bbq chicken salad with barbecue ranch dressing.

Southern BBQ Chicken Salad with Barbecue Ranch Dressing

Fork lifting a bite of brussel sprout slaw out of a bowl.

Brussels Sprout Slaw

Spicy BBQ Ranch Dressing Recipe

Forkful of italian pasta salad.

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Bowl of potato salad

Dill Pickle Potato Salad

Forkful of broccoli salad

Tangy Broccoli Salad Recipe

Close up of this broccoli ranch cashew salad.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Bacon

Poppy seed dressing drizzled over green salad.

Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe

Show Me More!!!

Top 10 Recipes

A deviled egg half on a plate.

Secret Ingredient Deviled Eggs

Slices of fresh white bread

Easy White Bread Recipe (1 Loaf)

A dipping bowl filled with tartar sauce placed on a plate next to some fish fillets.

4 Ingredient Tartar Sauce with Capers

Sticks of Italian Cheese Bread

Copycat Italian Cheese Bread

Slice of lemon bundt cake on a plate.

Easy Lemon Bundt Cake

90 Minute Dinner Rolls (Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners)

Three soft crumbl oreo cookies sprinkled with extra oreo crumbs.

Soft "Crumbl" Oreo Cookies

two loaves of french bread in a basket.

Homemade French Bread with Video

Pretty slice of black tie mousse cake.

Black Tie Mousse Cake

Watermelon sticks arranged for a picnic or party.

Easy Watermelon Sticks (With How to Video)

Check out my Web Stories!!!

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • FAQ

Social

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2020 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

 

  • 137Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Yummly
486 shares