A retro dish with a refined touch for lunch or brunch.
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Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated March 12, 2024
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Waldorf salad is a favorite around here, particularly in the fall when apples and walnuts are in season. It's especially popular around the holidays, gracing many a Thanksgiving and holiday spread.
The Original Waldorf Salad Recipe
According to the American Century Cookbook, the first Waldorf salad was created in New York City in 1893, by Oscar Tschirky, the maître d'hôtel of the Waldorf Astoria.
The original recipe consisted only of diced red-skinned apples, celery, and mayonnaise. Chopped walnuts were added later to this now American classic.
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Mayo or Yogurt for Waldorf Salad?
Some prefer their Waldorf salad made with yogurt, instead of mayo. I usually stay in the mayonnaise camp (which is what we are using in this recipe), but feel free to substitute yogurt for the mayo if you prefer. In which case you may need to add some honey to offset the added tartness of the yogurt.
Seems like everyone has their favorite version of Waldorf salad! If you have one you would like to share, please tell us about it in the comments.
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How Long Can Waldorf Salad be Stored?
For the freshest, crispest salad, make Waldorf salad no more than an hour before serving, and keep it in the fridge until you do. Refrigerate leftovers for a day; the apples may brown a bit and the salad may become watery, but it will still be enjoyable.
Ways to Serve Waldorf Salad
You can serve the whole salad on a bed of fresh lettuce, but if you want to serve individual portions of Waldorf Salad, try these presentations.
- In martini or coupe glasses
- On lettuce cups
- In a large, hollowed out apple
Great Picnic Dishes to Serve with Waldorf Salad
- Pan Bagnat (French Tuna Sandwich)
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken
- Tomato Galette with Parmesan Whole Wheat Crust
- Watermelon Gazpacho
- Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Topping
From the Editors Of Simply Recipes
Waldorf Salad
Servings4 servings
If using yogurt, omit the lemon juice. You may also want to add a little honey to balance the tartness of the yogurt.
Some of our longtime readers prefer to omit the salt, but we like the way it offsets the sweetness of the apples and grapes.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons mayonnaise (or plain yogurt)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
2sweet apples, cored and chopped
1 cup seedless red grapes, halved, or 1/4 cup raisins
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup chopped, slightly toasted walnuts
Lettuce
Method
Make the dressing:
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise (or yogurt), lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Add the apple, celery, grapes, and walnuts:
Stir the apple, celery, grapes, and walnuts into the bowl with the dressing.
Serve:
Spoon salad onto a bed of fresh lettuce and serve.
Did you love the recipe? Leave us a rating and review!
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| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 301 | Calories |
| 22g | Fat |
| 25g | Carbs |
| 6g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 301 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 22g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat 2g | 12% |
| Cholesterol 1mg | 0% |
| Sodium 311mg | 14% |
| Total Carbohydrate 25g | 9% |
| Dietary Fiber 5g | 19% |
| Total Sugars 17g | |
| Protein 6g | |
| Vitamin C 8mg | 39% |
| Calcium 55mg | 4% |
| Iron 1mg | 7% |
| Potassium 415mg | 9% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
