Frog Eye Salad

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Frog Eye Salad is a a sweet, pudding-based fruit salad that can be made with convenient ingredients or homemade whipping cream, we call it a salad just as an excuse to have two desserts!

Frog Eye Salad in two dessert cups on a platter.


 

Sweet, chewy, and decadent, who knew Frogs’ Eyes could taste so good!

What is Frog Eye Salad?

A staple at picnic potlucks in Utah, Frog Eye salad is a pudding/pasta/fruit salad that is, for lack of a better definition, a dessert salad.

This fruit salad combines acini di pepe pasta, mandarin oranges, and pineapple suspended in homemade pudding and whipped topping, with the addition of marshmallow and shredded coconut for texture.

Ingredients for frog eye salad in various bowls.

What is acini di pepe?

Acini di pepe, meaning ​seeds of a pepper ​in Italian, is similar to the more popular Pastina.

It is what gives this dessert salad its overall chewiness and the appearance of a frog’s eye.

For the best texture, cook until al dente, about 6 minutes in boiling, salted water, and chill immediately.

Frog Eye Salad mixture in a clear glass bowl.

What is a good substitute for acini di pepe?

If you can’t find acini di pepe, you can substitute it with another small shaped pasta such as pastina or small stars, Israeli-style couscous, or even tapioca pearls. Keep in mind cooking times may vary.

Is custard the same as pudding?

Pudding is a dessert with milk or cream thickened by starch, custard is a dessert with milk or cream thickened by egg. Think of custard as pudding’s egg-y cousin.

Frog Eye Salad in two dessert cups on a platter.

What can I use instead of frozen whipped topping?

If you are not a fan of frozen whipped topping, try making your own. In a large bowl, pour in 1 1⁄2 cups heavy whipping cream and whisk until stiff peaks form, making about 3 cups. This equals the same amount of whipped topping found in an 8-ounce carton.

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Frog eyed salad in a clear dish.

Frog Eye Salad

Pasta salad meets fruit salad, with a creamy homemade custard and whipped topping in the mix, in this classic Frog Eye Salad recipe. Frog Eye Salad has roots in Utah, but it reminds me of a Midwest "salad," so I've adopted it into our culinary canon!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Calories 190
5 from 4 votes

Ingredients 

For the pasta:

  • Salt
  • 16 ounces acini di pepe pasta

For the custard:

For the salad:

Instructions 

To make the pasta:

  • Bring 4 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain well and rinse under cold water.

To make the custard:

  • Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together sugar, flour, ½ teaspoon salt, pineapple juice, and eggs. 
  • Cook until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, add lemon juice, cover, and chill at least 30 minutes.

To assemble the salad:

  • In a large bowl, combine the pasta, custard, mandarin oranges, pineapple, and whipped topping. Mix well and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight. Before serving, add marshmallows and coconut and toss to combine.

Nutrition

Calories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 4gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 25mgPotassium: 132mgFiber: 2gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 149IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. Hey do you know the exact origin of Frog Eye Salad? It seems to resemble Ambrosia but it has the Italian Pasta and very popular amongst Latter Day Saints. This is a weird mixture of cultures and I can’t find any proper origin.