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This classic Waldorf Salad recipe has been a staple recipe in my family for years. I love the crunchy apples, nuts, and celery with the sweet grapes. So many delicious flavors and textures!
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What is a Waldorf Salad?
The first Waldorf salad was created in 1869 for a charity ball at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. Oscar Tschirky is credited with the recipe which only had 3 ingredients: apples, celery, and mayonnaise. Later Waldorf salad recipes appearing in cookbooks included the addition of walnuts. More recent versions of the recipe include dried fruit or grapes. For a comprehensive look at the history of the Waldorf salad, see this Food52 article.
My first tasting of a Waldorf salad was at the home of my future mother-in-law in the early 1990’s. She was an excellent cook, and a Waldorf salad was a side dish at many of her meals. I loved it and have used her recipe for this delicious salad ever since. I wish I would’ve asked her before her passing where she got her recipe.
Waldorf Salad Ingredients
- crisp apples – (Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Fuji, or Gala)
- lemon juice
- red grapes – halved
- celery sticks – chopped
- walnuts – halved (optional-toast the walnuts a little in the oven on a baking sheet)
- mayonnaise or plain yogurt
- green leaf lettuce, mixed greens, or other lettuce leaves – for a nice presentation, I like to serve this salad in the same way my mother-in-law served it, on a bed of lettuce.
Waldorf Salad Dressing
This recipe uses the same creamy dressing as the original Waldorf salad recipe – mayonnaise. The sweetness of the apples and raisins complements the mayonnaise without it overpowering their flavor. Variations have been added to this dressing over the years.
For a sweeter dressing: Mix 2 teaspoons of sugar or 1 teaspoon of honey into the mayonnaise before it is added to the salad. Stir in a little lemon juice for a fresh, citrus flavor.
Substitutions for the mayonnaise: Not a fan of mayo? You can use non-fat plain yogurt, Miracle Whip, Greek yogurt, or sour cream instead. You can also use a light mayonnaise for a lighter dressing.
A sweet, crisp, ripe apple is essential in a Waldorf Salad. My favorite way to prepare this salad is with two apples that are in season. I prefer to use a combination of Pink Lady and a Granny Smith for color, taste, and texture. More crisp apple varieties that work great in this salad are: Cosmic Crisp, Honey Crisp, Gala, Envy, and Fuji.
I am a big fan of Best Food’s mayonnaise, also called Hellman’s mayonnaise depending on where you live. It is rich and creamy, and works beautifully in this salad.
You can make this Waldorf salad up to a few hours before serving, but it’s best to make it the day you plan to serve it. Because the apples brown, and the walnuts soften, the salad is at it’s best on the day it’s made.
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How to Make Waldorf Salad
Waldorf Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 3 Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady apples, chopped
- 3 crisp Granny Smith apples, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup chopped celery (about 3 ribs)
- 2 cups red grapes, halved
- 1 cup walnuts, halved
- ¾ cup mayonnaise or plain yogurt
- 3 cups green leaf lettuce or mixed greens
Instructions
- Place apple chunks in a large bowl and toss in lemon juice.
- Mix celery, grapes, and walnuts in with the apples. Add mayonnaise or yogurt and stir until the fruit and nuts are well coated.
- Refrigerate salad until ready to serve.
- Serve on a bed of green leaf lettuce or mixed salad greens.
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First kitchen in 4 years due to assisted living and stroke…could not remember what went into Waldorf Salad and recipes went with the sale of the house. Thanks for helping me recover a skill that was important to me!
I am so happy you are doing better. I hope you have continued to improve. I love this recipes simplicity.
A big hit at a dinner party with my family at home. Everyone including the children loved the freshness of this salad. And everything just fits great together!
Super yummy! I love a good Waldorf salad! This has all the best stuff in it! Perfect crisp apple, sweet grapes, crunchy protein filled nuts…a lovely dressing! So delightful!
Yum, this was even a hit with my kids, love all the fruit in it!
Thank You. I’ve not had this salad in years….
My husband loves this recipe! I can’t wait to make this again soon! So delicious and yummy!
Waldorf salad is always a good choice, and this recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious!
Light and delicious — perfect for brunch!
Easily my favorite salad. Love this recipe!
Yum! This is my favorite salad!
Nummy, nummy! Made this tonight. Delicious, quick and easy and full of healthy ingredients. Thank you!
Nummy, nummy! Made this tonight. Delicious, quick and easy and full of healthy ingredients.
Thank you!
How far in advance can I make this salad?
I wouldn’t make it very far in advance because the apples will brown!
Grew up with Waldorf salad. Never knew it was related to the Waldorf Astoria. Who knew. Always loved it.
Our family has used this recipe for years and it is so refreshing in the summer as well as a light side anytime.
I agree!
We always add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the mayo. It makes it creamier and taste delicious with apples!
Yum! I love that idea!
Healthy Diet:Calories Guava Apple is claim to assist lower levels of cholesterol and also reduce risk of type-2 diabetes. Calories In Guava | 3 Apple Salad Recipes For a Nutritious Meal|
What a lovely, cool, delicious, and refreshing salad to enjoy as a ‘side-dish’ with dinner on a hot summer’s evening! (BTW, your choice of apples is ‘spot-on’!) Also, for those of us who like to eat ‘lite’, I’d cook a chicken breast, cool it, dice it, and add it into the salad. This would also make it a nice & lite luncheon dish. I’m anxious to try it.
Yum – thank you.