A timeless American classic, this Waldorf Salad is ready in just 10 minutes, making it perfect for busy weekdays or elegant gatherings. The harmonious blend of fresh ingredients creates a delightful mix of sweet, creamy, and crunchy textures that’ll wow your taste buds.
With only 297 calories per serving and packed with essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and potassium, this refreshing salad proves that healthy eating can be both simple and satisfying.
Fresh Waldorf Salad Ingredients
- Apples: 1 red (honey crisp/red delicious) and 1 green (golden delicious) apple, unpeeled and bite-sized
- Celery: 1 rib, neatly sliced for the perfect crunch
- Grapes: 1 cup red seedless, halved for easy eating
- Dried Fruit: 1/4 cup golden raisins for natural sweetness
- Nuts: 1/3 cup walnut halves, adding wonderful texture
- Dressing Base: 1/3 cup mayonnaise (or half Greek yogurt for lighter option)
- Seasonings: 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp red wine vinegar, fresh black pepper
- Garnish: Boston Bib or romaine lettuce leaves for serving
Simple Step-by-Step Instructions
- Fruit Prep: Toss chopped apples in lemon juice in a large bowl to prevent browning
- Mix Base: Add your celery, grapes, raisins, and walnuts to the apple mixture
- Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar, and pepper until smooth
- Combine: Gently coat the apple mixture with your desired amount of dressing
- Chill: Refrigerate until ready to serve for best results
- Present: Arrange on crisp lettuce leaves and serve cold for maximum freshness
Variations & Substitutions
Want to make this Waldorf salad your own? You can swap the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt to make it lighter, or do half and half for the best of both worlds! Not a fan of walnuts? Try pecans or almonds instead.
You can also mix up the fruit – try adding pears when they’re in season, or toss in some dried cranberries instead of raisins. For a tropical twist, replace the grapes with chunks of fresh pineapple.
Storage Tips
Keep your Waldorf salad fresh and crisp by storing it in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s best eaten within 2 days. The apples might brown a bit, but the lemon juice helps slow this down.
If you’re making it ahead, you can prep all the fruit and nuts, store them separately from the dressing, and mix them together just before serving. This keeps everything nice and crunchy!
Serving Suggestions
This classic salad shines as a light lunch or side dish. While it’s beautiful on Boston Bib lettuce leaves, you can also serve it alongside grilled chicken or turkey sandwiches. For a lovely brunch spread, pair it with croissants and fresh fruit.
Want to make it more filling? Add some diced chicken or turkey to turn it into a main course. During hot summer days, serve it with iced tea for a refreshing meal.
Waldorf Salad
Equipment
- Large Bowl
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 whole red apple honey crisp or red delicious, unpeeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 whole green apple golden delicious, unpeeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 rib celery sliced
- 1 cup red seedless grapes halved
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/3 cup walnut halves
For the Dressing
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise or half Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Boston Bib lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves
Instructions
- In a large bowl toss the apples in lemon juice. Add celery, grapes, raisins and walnuts
- In a separate bowl stir together the mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar and pepper. Taste and adjust to your liking with a little extra mayonnaise or more vinegar.
- Coat apple mixture in desired amount of dressing (you may not want to use it all).
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve cold, on top of bib lettuce or large lettuce leaf.
