Waldorf Salad, featuring crisp apples, sweet grapes, crunchy celery, toasted walnuts, and a bright, tangy dressing, is a timeless side dish that shines during fall and winter.
This classic salad is an excellent addition to holiday meals such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. It pairs beautifully with roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and roasted green beans for a well-rounded spread.
What is Waldorf Salad?
Waldorf Salad is a simple, refreshing dish that originally combined apples, celery, and mayonnaise. It was created at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in the late 1800s for a charity event; walnuts and grapes were added later, creating the version most of us know today.
The traditional ingredients are apples, celery, mayonnaise, walnuts, and grapes. You can easily customize the salad by adding diced chicken or turkey for a heartier dish, or introducing raisins and other vegetables to vary texture and flavor.
Best fruit choices
For apples, choose varieties that are sweet, crisp, and juicy to balance the dressing’s tang. Honeycrisp and Fuji are top choices because they hold their texture and add natural sweetness. Keep the skins on for extra color and flavor if you like.
Grape color is a matter of preference. Green grapes keep the salad’s palette lighter, while red or purple grapes add visual contrast. Whichever you choose, look for firm, seedless, sweet grapes and quarter them for easy bites.
Make-ahead and storage
Waldorf Salad is best served the day it’s made because the fruit releases juice over time. If you need to prepare it in advance or save leftovers, store the salad refrigerated for a few days. Before serving, gently stir to redistribute any liquid and keep the salad chilled for best texture and flavor.
Waldorf Salad
Nichole
15
15
8 servings
Ingredients
Dressing:
- 6 Tbsp mayonnaise or plain yogurt
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pinch freshly ground black pepper
Salad:
- 2 apples cored and chopped into cubes (sweet apples like Fuji or Honeycrisp recommended)
- 1 cup green seedless grapes quartered
- 1 cup celery thinly sliced
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- 6 leaves butter lettuce for serving
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise (or yogurt), honey, lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper.
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In a large bowl, combine the apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts.
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Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
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Serve chilled on a bed of fresh butter lettuce.
Notes
- Choose crisp, juicy apples such as Fuji, Jonagold, or Honeycrisp. Leaving the skin on adds color and flavor.
- Plain Greek yogurt can replace mayonnaise for a lighter dressing; if you use yogurt, consider adding a touch more honey if you prefer a sweeter balance.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.