Waldorf Salad, originally served at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in 1896, is a fantastic fusion of diced apples, walnuts, celery, and grapes in a simple mayonnaise dressing. Enjoy this delicious Waldorf Salad Recipe on a bed of crisp lettuce for a light and easy lunch or dinner.
What is a Waldorf Salad?
The Waldorf salad was first created in 1896 by the Waldorf-Astoria’s maître d’hôtel, Oscar Tschirky, who developed (or at the very least inspired) many of the hotel’s most popular signature dishes.
Originally, the dish came with just apples, celery, and mayonnaise. Now considered an integral part of this all-American salad, it wasn’t until later, sometime before 1928, that nuts (particularly walnuts) had been added.
You will most often find Waldorf salads served on a bed of lettuce or fresh greens as an appetizer or light lunch.
Ingredients in Waldorf Salad
To make this super easy Waldorf salad recipe you will need the following ingredients,
- Apples – Apples were part of the Waldorf salad from the very beginning. I always recommend adding your favorite variety, but Pink Lady and Granny Smith are particularly well suited.
- Celery – Not everyone loves the taste of celery. Fortunately, this salad has a lot of other really awesome flavors so you won’t taste it too much. The crunch, on the other hand, you will definitely experience that.
- Grapes – I love red grapes so that’s usually what I use in recipes. Feel free to use whatever grape variety is your favorite – except for seeded grapes. Save those for snacking.
- Walnuts – The walnuts are optional, so if you’re allergic to nuts or just really dislike them, feel free to leave them out.
- Mayonnaise – I have made this recipe with both low-fat mayonnaise and full-fat mayonnaise. The full-fat kind is better.
- Sugar – If you prefer a slightly sweeter dressing simply stir a couple of teaspoons of sugar in with the mayonnaise before mixing with the apples and celery. It’s optional and shouldn’t make a huge difference.
- Lettuce – You’ll often find Waldorf salads served on a bed of greens. I served mine on several whole leaves of butter lettuce, but feel free to use your favorite. Or, go for something a little different and add some kale or chard in there.
What are the best apples for Waldorf Salad
With such an enormous selection of apples out there it can be hard to choose what apple variety is best for a given recipe.
For fresh salads, such as this Waldorf salad recipe, picking apples that resist oxidation for as long as possible is key. Why? They take longer to start browning. Other important factors include taste and texture. Sweet and somewhat tart apples are best as well as anything with a nice crispy crunch.
Favorites include,
- Pink Lady
- Honey Crisp
- Granny Smith
- Piñata
- Golden Delicious
Variations
More than a century has passed since the Waldorf salad was first introduced at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. In this time several variations have been created.
- Protein. The addition of chunks of chicken or turkey is extremely popular and an easy way to make this light lunch or appetizer a more filling meal.
- Dried fruit. You will sometimes find dates, raisins, or even dried cranberries for extra flavor and texture.
- The dressing. Classic Waldorf salads come with a simple mayonnaise dressing. Feel free to play around, however, and add some plain yogurt in place of part of the mayonnaise, or even some freshly whipped whipping cream.
- Mix up the fruit. This salad is also great with pears! The key is making sure that you use pears that are ripe, but still firm. You can also add mandarins or pineapple.
How to make Waldorf Salad
To make this Waldorf salad simply,
- Add the prepared grapes, celery, apples, and walnuts to a large mixing bowl. Gently toss to combine.
- In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise and sugar until completely combined.
- Add the mayonnaise mixture to the bowl filled with the apples, grapes, and celery. Gently mix to combine.
- Serve in bowls with your favorite mixed salad greens or lettuce and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Pro-Tip – Chop the apples at the very end to prevent as much browning as possible.
How to make Waldorf Salad
To make this Waldorf salad simply,
- Add the prepared grapes, celery, apples, and walnuts to a large mixing bowl. Gently toss to combine.
- In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise and sugar until completely combined.
- Add the mayonnaise mixture to the bowl filled with the apples, grapes, and celery. Gently mix to combine.
- Serve in bowls with your favorite mixed salad greens or lettuce and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Pro-Tip – Chop the apples at the very end as they will start to brown.
What to serve with a Waldorf salad
Many people consider the Waldorf salad to a summer salad. While this is very true (it is a cold salad, after all), I think of it as more of a summer and fall fusion. No matter when (or where) you choose to serve this salad it will certainly taste awesome with a handful of amazing recipes.
A few of my favorites include baked chicken, grilled chicken, salmon, or even pork chops.
Serve it with fresh-baked bread, dinner rolls, or even wrapped in a tortilla for an easy, on-the-go lunch or dinner recipe.
Can you make Waldorf Salad ahead of time?
Yes, however, I wouldn’t recommend making this salad more than one, maybe two, hours ahead of time.
While it is most definitely best enjoyed the same day that it is made, it won’t go bad overnight, so feel free to eat the leftovers the next day if you’re up for it.
More apple recipes,
- Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (How to Make Apple Crisp)
- Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork Recipe
- Homemade Applesauce Recipe
- Apple Balsamic Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
- Cinnamon Sugar Baked Apple Donuts
- Autumn Harvest Cinnamon Apple Pumpkin Granola
If you try making this Waldorf Salad Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
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Easy Waldorf Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups red grapes - cut in half
- 1 cup celery - chopped
- 3 medium apples - chopped into bite-size chunks
- 1/2 cup walnuts - roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp sugar
- Salad greens or lettuce - for serving
Instructions
- Add the prepared grapes, celery, apples, and walnuts to a large mixing bowl. Gently toss to combine.
- In a small bowl mix together the mayonnaise and sugar until completely combined.
- Add the mayonnaise mixture to the bowl filled with the apples, grapes, and celery. Gently mix to combine.
- Serve in bowls with your favorite mixed salad greens or lettuce and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Notes
- Any type of crisp and sweet apple is perfect for this recipe. Examples include golden or red delicious apples, in addition to Pink Lady apples.
- If you prefer chopped pecans use those in place of the chopped walnuts.
- Ripe, yet firm, pears are a great alternative to apples.
- Some Waldorf salad recipes recommend tossing the apples in a little lemon juice to prevent them from browning. I (personally) avoid this step as I feel the lemon juice makes the mayonnaise taste a little funny. This step, however, is up to you.
