My version of the Classic Waldorf Salad made with celery, apples, juicy grapes and toasted walnuts with a creamy, lemony dressing. It’s crunchy, refreshing and is great for lunch or brunch any time of the year!
Have you ever tried a Waldorf salad? A friend had introduced me to it last year and I’ve been hooked! I can definitely see why this salad has remained popular for decades. It is savory and sweet, healthy but a tiny bit sinful. If you have never tried a Waldorf salad, you definitely should!
What is a Waldorf Salad?
The Waldorf salad recipe was first created in 1896 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. It was made for a charity ball that honored St. Mary’s Hospital for Children. The salad was such a huge hit that it went on to be a signature dish of the hotel.
You may be wondering by now what exactly is in a Waldorf salad that makes it so incredible. The traditional salad is made with apples, celery, walnuts, grapes and a mayonnaise dressing. The fruity mix is served on a bed of lettuce and enjoyed cold. The warm taste of the walnuts makes it a delicious fall salad but the bright grapes and juicy celery make it perfect for spring and summer, too. It is a real year round refreshing salad!
Perfect Waldorf Salad Recipe
A true Waldorf salad should have the classic ingredients but many chefs put their own twist on the salad, keeping it on trend over a century later. I am a pretty big fan of making Waldorf salad the exact way it was originally made. Do you love a classic, too?? Of course, I do add a little bit of my personality into my Waldorf salad recipe and I promise you are going to love it. My Waldorf salad recipe is creamy, crunchy, sweet and tangy. It is everything you could want in a salad so let’s get right into all the details so you can start eating!
Ingredients for Waldorf Salad
Ready to go shopping? Here is what you will need to grab at the grocery store so you can make a Waldorf salad ASAP!
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- mayonnaise or yogurt– Waldorf salads are classically made with mayonnaise. I love the creamy, rich taste of mayonnaise but Greek yogurt is a fantastic, lower fat substitute. Both mayonnaise, lite mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt will work!
- sugar– A little sugar helps sweeten the dressing. You can choose to skip this but I really think it makes the salad more irresistible and also more authentic. The original Waldorf salad definitely had sugar!
- lemon– A little lemon juice brightens up the dressing and adds a nice tangy. This is especially good for a summer Waldorf salad.
- red and green grapes– I like to use both color grapes to make the salad look extra pretty. Red grapes are also a little sweeter than green grapes so you get a nice balance of sweet and tangy fruit.
- apples– I like gala apples because of their perfect crunch. Any apple will work but make sure it is a slightly tart, crunchy variety.
- celery– Some chopped celery gives the salad more crunchy texture and that subtle, grassy taste.
- walnuts- Walnuts not only add some healthy fats to the salad, but they also add a warm, nutty taste. That flavor goes so well with the sweet, tart fruit.
- salt and pepper– A little salt and pepper are always a good way to finish off a salad!
As you can see, my recipe skips that classic bed of lettuce and really focuses on the Waldorf mix. I like the salad better without lettuce but that’s personal preference.
How to Make a Waldorf Salad
Now that you have the ingredients you need, it is time to start cooking! Well, you don’t actually have to cook at all to make a Waldorf salad, you just need to mix! You will need a measuring cup, a large mixing bowl, a paring knife and a cutting board to make the salad. A big spoon or rubber spatula will work to mix it all together.
My recipe for Waldorf salad is so easy and I’m showing it to you step-by-step here:
1. Add the mayonnaise, sugar and lemon juice to the large bowl and whisk together.
2. Add the halved grapes, chopped apple, celery and chopped walnuts to the bowl and mix everything together. Add a little salt and pepper and toss again. 
3. Chill the salad until you are ready to eat!
It is amazing how easy and quick it is to make a Waldorf salad! It only takes about five, maybe ten minutes to make a nice big salad that is healthy, exciting and also a true classic dish. I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this salad. I always thought a Waldorf salad was something over the top fancy, out of my culinary abilities. Turns out, it is insanely easy to make and so, so tasty!
I am going to be serving Waldorf salad at all my parties and get-togethers this summer. You should give it a try too! See what a century worth of culinary hype is all about. Enjoy!
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Waldorf Salad
Description
Our version of the Classic Waldorf Salad made with celery, apples, juicy grapes and toasted walnuts with a creamy, lemony dressing. It’s crunchy, refreshing and is great for lunch or brunch any time of the year!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup mayonnaise or plain yogurt
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 large or 3 small apples, like Gala
- 1 cup red grapes, halved
- 1 cup green grapes, halved
- 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
- ½ cup chopped toasted walnuts, plus for more garnish if desired
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sugar and lemon juice
- Add grapes, apples, celery and chopped walnuts
- Stir to combine well
- Season with salt and pepper
- Top with more walnuts, if desired
- Chill until ready to serve
- Store leftovers in refrigerator
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A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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This is so delicious! We love Waldorf Salad but we haven’t tried making it at home yet. Maybe now is the perfect opportunity.
★★★★★
This salad looks so refreshing and delicious. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve never heard of Waldorf salad before but that is looking quite delicious, would love to give this recipe a try sometime soon.
★★★★★
I’ve never actually had a waldorf salad. This sounds delicious! Would be nice to make in the summer as it sounds refreshing.
Waldorf Salad is classic. Just perfect for summer gatherings.
That looks so yummy! Would love to try making this sometime, thanks. 🙂
This is one of my favorite salads and I like the idea of using greek yoghurt to make the dressing. I agree sugar with lemon is needed to get the right balance.
★★★★★
I haven’t had this for so long! I love how it is sweet and crunchy, too. I need to make it sometime!
Nnniiiccceeee..if it has got some mayo in it, I believe I will love it.
That is some good eating during the hot days of summer and one of the best salads to take to family gatherings. This recipe brings back such great memories of family time.
★★★★★
Oh yes! I love salads! I will have to try this recipe soon!
Waldorf salad is one of my favorites! I love that this recipe calls for both green and red grapes. I’ve never had one with the two.
One of my favorite summertime salad recipes. Looking forward to making this again.
This looks great and a tasty idea to bring over for summer bbq’s. I’m not usually a fan of fruits in salads but I would like to try this.
Wow! This is such a really amazing recipe! It looks absolutely delicious I love it!
That looks absolutely delicious and tasty! I would really love to try this recipe!
My grandma used to make this recipe every summer. I’m personally not a fan. Leave out the celery and I might like it better.
★★★★★
I love Waldorf Salad but never think to make it myself. I need to!
I’ve only had yogurt in my Waldorf salad. I haven’t tried it with mayo. Excited to give this recipe a try.
The best things about waldorf salads are the well- rounded nutritional value and the different textures and flavors. It’s much better than a traditional salad.
Yum, this looks like delicious salad! I need to make it the next time we grill out.
These are gorgeous images and flavors. You really can’t beat Waldorf salad.
★★★★★