Waldorf Salad
Recipe: Waldorf Salad
Waldorf Salad is a creamy, crispy, filling, delish, classic salad. Enjoy it as a light meal, serve it as a starter dish or as a side for a party. The subtly sweet dressing, the crunch from the celery and crispiness of the apples makes this elegant salad a party winner.
What Is Waldorf Salad?
A Waldorf Salad is generally a fruit and nut salad with a bit of celery, dressed with mayonnaise and served on a bed of lettuce. It gets its name from the famous Waldorf – Astoria Hotel in New York. Oscar Tschirky, a maître d’hôtel at the hotel is credited for creating this salad for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary’s Hospital for Children on March 13, 1896. Back then it was created with just apples, celery and mayonnaise.
Modern versions include fruits like grapes, dried fruits (dates, raisins, apricots), nuts and mayonnaise is mixed with sour cream, fresh cream or yogurt. Some recipes do away with the bed of lettuce.
Sharing Waldorf Salad Recipe With 2025 Alphabet Challenge Group
It’s now letter W, gosh time has flown by so fast. A few more letters to go through and the year ends. For letter W sharing a classic salad was a must. I had made this salad some years back after seeing it on one of the cookery shows. Back then it was just with mayo. While jotting down the salads I would like to prepare for the Alphabet Challenge, Waldorf came to my mind for letter W. W is for water, wheat, wine, whiskey, watermelon, wasabi, wild rice, walnuts, wantons, watercress, waffles, etc.
For me it is W for Waldorf.
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W Recipes By Members Of The Group
- Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Chocolate Mint Whoopie Pies
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- Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Whiskey
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Ingredients Required For Waldorf Salad
Apple
Use your favourite apple. Can mix both red and white. I used honey crisp apple and it added a delicious crispiness to the salad. If the apples are not waxed then no need to peel them.
Celery
Wash a celery stalk or two very well. Wipe it with a kitchen towel to remove excess water. Make sure you wash the stalk well as there might be some soil on it. Use fresh crunchy celery. I also added a little bit of the tender celery leaves. Chop it up. About 1-2 tbsp is enough. We need about ½ cup finely sliced celery stalk.
Grapes
Add either red, green or a mixture. I used red ones. Wash and wipe the grapes. Cut them into halves. We need about ½ cup whole grapes.
Walnuts
I like to toast the walnuts a bit. Either toast them in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave oven for 1 minute. We need about ¼ cup. After toasting them, chop the walnuts into chunky pieces.
Lemon Juice
Best to use fresh lemon juice. Can add some zest if you like.
Mayonnaise
We need 2 tablespoon. Instead of mayo can use sour cream or plain yogurt.
Fresh Cream
Generally not added, but I like to add some for that rich elegant taste. Saw that on the cookery show.
Salt
Add any salt of your choice. I used sea salt.
Sugar
A must for that lovely sweetish creamy taste. However, if you don’t want to add, that too is fine.
Lettuce Leaves
Optional Ingredient as most people tend to leave the lettuce leaf and eat the salad only. If you do use lettuce leaves make sure they are fresh and crispy. I used butter lettuce.
WALDORF SALAD
Waldorf Salad is a creamy, crispy, filling, delish, classic salad. Enjoy it as a light meal, serve it as a starter dish or as a side for a party. The subtly sweet dressing, the crunch from the celery and crispiness of the apples makes this elegant salad a party winner.
Ingredients
- 1 large apple
- ½ cup celery stalk thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp celery leaves tender
- ½ cup grapes cut into halves
- ¼ cup walnuts toasted
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- ¼ cup fresh heavy cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4-5 lettuce leaves optional
Instructions
- Toast the walnuts in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave oven for 40-60 seconds.
- Chop the walnuts roughly.
- Wash the celery stalk well. Wipe with a kitchen towel.
- Slice the stalk thinly.
- Wash the tender celery leaves. Pat them dry and chop finely.
- Wash and wipe the grapes dry. Cut them into halves.
- Chop the apple into small pieces. Add lemon juice to it and mix well.
- Add all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Add the mayonnaise, cream, sugar and salt.
- Toss the salad well.
- Cover the bowl. Chill the salad for 1 hour or overnight in the fridge.
- Layer a serving plate with the lettuce leaves.
- Add the chilled salad.
- Garnish with some extra chopped walnuts if you like and the chopped celery leaves.
Notes
- This salad recipe serves 2 as a meal and 4 as a starter or side dish.
- Mix red and green apples if you like.
- Add pecans instead of walnuts.
- Use a mixture of red and green grapes or only green.
- Instead of mayonnaise, use sour cream or yogurt. If you use either then don't add fresh cream.
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A Small Request
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or comment on Pinterest @mayuri62
18 Comments
Wendy Klik
November 5, 2025 at 6:04 am
It’s not a holiday around here without a Waldorf Salad. Yours is wonderful.
mayurisjikoni
November 5, 2025 at 10:25 pm
Thank you so much Wendy.
hobby baker Kelly
November 5, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Such a beloved potluck classic! And yes, that cream really looks to make it extra special.
mayurisjikoni
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 pm
Thank you so much Kelly. I have tried it with only mayo and find the flavour to overpowering. With cream it is just perfect.
Karen’s Kitchen Stories
November 5, 2025 at 2:20 pm
I love a crunchy Waldorf salad. Thank you for the history lesson! I once stayed at the Waldorf Astoria a long, long time ago with my grandmother. I now appreciate how historic it is! Thannks for the great recipe and memory.
mayurisjikoni
November 5, 2025 at 10:23 pm
Wow Karen, lucky you. Nowadays with hotels being so expensive, I don’t know if I will ever have the opportunity to stay there. We love the occasional indulgence in a creamy salad.
Stacy
November 5, 2025 at 4:05 pm
My grandmother made a version of this for special occasions but as a child, it wasn’t my favorite. All grown up, I love everything about it! Your salad is so pretty, Mayuri.
mayurisjikoni
November 5, 2025 at 10:21 pm
Thank you so much Stacy. We love the salad.
Sue Lau
November 6, 2025 at 11:03 am
I do abide by the idea of eating an apple a day! This is another great way to enjoy one.
mayurisjikoni
November 7, 2025 at 8:19 pm
Somehow I don’t like eating an apple on its own. Cooked or with something that is absolutely fine. If I don’t add it to a salad then I have it with peanut butter or add a few slices to a sandwich.
Jolene
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 am
Adding cream is so smart! Not a mayo fan so the yogurt/sour cream tip is fantastic too.
mayurisjikoni
November 7, 2025 at 8:16 pm
Thanks Jolene I love it with the cream. When I make it for a healthier lunch option, I add yogurt.
Colleen – Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
November 8, 2025 at 2:34 pm
I can practically hear the crunch of this salad! All of the good stuff!!!
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Thank you so much Colleen.
Sneha Datar
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 am
I could have this as meal, love it!
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2025 at 5:54 pm
Thanks Sneha, go ahead and enjoy it as a meal. We do.
Lisa
November 14, 2025 at 11:13 am
What a classic salad! I remember growing up it was brought to more than one potlucks or church gatherings.
mayurisjikoni
November 14, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Thanks Lisa. I am glad it brought back fond memories for you.