Waldorf Salad
Ingredients
Directions / Instructions
Why You'll Love This Waldorf Salad
This classic Waldorf Salad is crisp, creamy, sweet, and refreshing, with the perfect combination of crunchy apples, celery, juicy grapes, and toasted walnuts. A simple creamy dressing brings all the ingredients together without overpowering the fresh fruit.
It's an easy make-ahead salad that's especially popular for holiday dinners, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, potlucks, brunches, and family gatherings. Serve it chilled as a side dish or spoon it over crisp lettuce for a beautiful presentation.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 3 medium crisp apples, cored and diced
- 1 cup seedless red or green grapes, halved
- 1 cup celery, thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, optional
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, optional
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
1. Toast the Walnuts
Place the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat and toast for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Let them cool before chopping.
2. Prepare the Fruit and Vegetables
Core and dice the apples, halve the grapes, and thinly slice the celery. If desired, toss the diced apples with a small amount of lemon juice to help prevent browning.
3. Make the Dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, honey, vanilla extract, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
4. Combine the Salad
Add the apples, grapes, celery, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries if using to a large bowl.
5. Add the Dressing
Pour the dressing over the fruit mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated. Avoid stirring too aggressively so the apples and grapes remain intact.
6. Chill
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to blend and keeps the salad crisp and refreshing.
7. Serve
Give the salad a gentle stir before serving. Spoon it over lettuce leaves or serve it chilled in a large bowl. Garnish with additional walnuts, grapes, or fresh parsley if desired.
Expert Tips
Choose crisp, slightly sweet apples such as Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith. Toasting the walnuts brings out their natural flavor and adds extra crunch. For the best texture, don't add the dressing too far in advance if you plan to keep the salad for several days. A small amount of lemon juice helps keep the apples fresh and adds brightness to the dressing.
Storage
Store Waldorf Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Give it a gentle stir before serving. If preparing the salad more than a few hours ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss it with the fruit shortly before serving for the freshest texture.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Waldorf Salad as a side dish with roasted turkey, baked chicken, ham, pork, grilled chicken, or sandwiches. It also works beautifully as part of a holiday buffet, brunch spread, or picnic lunch. Serve it over crisp romaine or butter lettuce for a classic presentation.
Recipe Variations
Replace walnuts with pecans, almonds, or cashews. Add dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped dates for extra sweetness. Use all Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter dressing, or add shredded chicken to turn the salad into a filling lunch. For extra crunch, add chopped pears or a small amount of toasted coconut.
Frequently Asked Questions
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