How to Make Waldorf Salad – A Classic Fruit & Nut Salad
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Learn how to make Waldorf Salad with our simple-to-follow recipe.
Waldorf salad is a classic fruit and nut salad combining lettuce, apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts.
Our version is “deconstructed” and drizzled with a lighter Greek yogurt-based dressing than the traditional rich mayo dressing.
You can have this salad ready to enjoy in under 20 minutes!
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How to Make Waldorf Salad
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions and ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required and understand the steps and timings involved.
The original Waldorf salad was created in 1896 by Oscar Tschirky at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, and comprised of just four ingredients: apples, celery, walnuts, and mayonnaise.
Traditionally, Waldorf salads are tossed in a generous amount of rich mayo-based dressing. But when you learn how to make Waldorf salad our way, you’ll find it is a quick deconstructed and lighter version using a combination of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt for the dressing, which is then drizzled sparingly on top before serving.
Modern variations of the classic salad include the addition of dried fruit (such as dates or raisins), and grapes – which we have used in our recipe. There is also the optional extra off adding some cheese to the salad too.
Why not serve Waldorf salad as a light lunch or as a side dish for roast chicken or turkey?
Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
While most ingredients can be bought in grocery stores, for your convenience, any specialized or notable ingredients (and equipment) needed for this recipe have been listed below and linked to Amazon or other stores if available online.
It does not include staple ingredients such as oil, salt, sugar, etc., as you’re likely to have those in your kitchen. The complete list of ingredients with measurements is found in the recipe card.
- Fresh Produce – Lemons, Lettuce, Granny Smith Apples, Red Grapes, Celery
- Dairy – Greek Yogurt, Goat’s Cheese or Blue Cheese (optional)
- Mayonnaise
- Honey – try to buy locally produced honey when possible.
- Garlic Powder
- Walnuts
Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog use both cup measurements and/or weighted measurements. American cups and kitchen food scales are handy pieces of equipment to have in your kitchen as it means you’ll be able to make all of the different recipes on my blog. I try to give American, imperial, and metric measurements in my recipes. Please note, you can mix cup measurements with weighted measurements, but never mix imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.,) with metric (kilograms, grams, litres, etc.,).
More Recipes Using Apple
One of the hero ingredients in this dish is apples, so here are some more recipes using the same:
- Instant Pot Baked Brie and Apple Appetizer
- Crudités with Apple & Blackcurrant Dip
- Slow Cooker Overnight Oats with Apple & Cinnamon
For more seasonal food, check out The Ultimate List of Autumn Recipes for the Fall Season! Right-click and open a new tab to read next.
More Salad Recipes
Looking for more salads to make? Check these recipes out next:
- Honey-Glazed Peach Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing
- Cobb Salad
- Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing & Croutons
Recipe Tips
- Granny Smith apples are crisp, but somewhat tart. If desired, substitute any crisp, sweet variety instead. (One red and one green apple would make for a nice presentation).
- For best results, prepare the dressing in advance to give the flavors time to develop.
How Do I Make Deconstructed Waldorf Salad?
Check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. Any demonstration photos do not print out to save your ink.
Waldorf Salad
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1½ Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
For the Salad
- 1 large head Bibb lettuce round lettuce, separated, rinsed, and patted dry
- 2 medium Granny Smith apples cored and sliced*
- 1 cup red seedless grapes cut in half
- 2 large stalks celery chopped small
- ½ cup walnuts roughly chopped
Optional:
- 2 oz/50g goat cheese or blue cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing by combining all ingredients in a bowl and whisking until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Assemble the salad by lining four chilled salad plates with the Bibb lettuce leaves. Top with the apples, grapes, walnuts, and cheese, if using.
- Drizzle with some of the dressing and serve immediately with the remaining dressing on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
- *Granny Smith apples are crisp but somewhat tart. If desired, substitute any crisp, sweet variety instead. (One red and one green apple would make for a nice presentation).
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Full Meal
You’ve made the salad, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to make a full meal for a dinner party or special occasion:
- Appetizer: Savory Puff Pastry Bites with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
- Soup: Vichyssoise Recipe- A Chilled Creamy Leek & Potato Soup
- Main Dish: Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken Breasts with Sweet Potato & Broccoli
- Side Dish: 5-Ingredient Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
- Beverage: Apple Cider Dark and Stormy Cocktail
- Dessert: Gluten-Free Baked Cinnamon Apple Cobbler Dessert
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too.