This Iconic Waldorf Salad is What I'm Making for Parties Now

This Waldorf Salad recipe is a delightful mix of flavors with a crunch! This classic dish effortlessly blends crisp celery, sweet apples, and toasted walnuts, all coated in a creamy dressing of yogurt, creme fraiche, and a hint of lemon juice. I am making this salad for parties and the guests are delighted.

Recipe

Waldorf Salad Recipe

Every bite of this salad is a wonderful mix of textures and flavors, making it a hit with everyone. It's easy to make but looks really fancy. This Waldorf Salad shows how a simple salad can make any meal feel extra special.

I have also made a few more salads like Pasta Salad, Lentil Salad, Stuffed Tomato Salad, and Cowboy Salad that you will like.

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Waldorf Salad Recipe
⭐Why You'll Love It
🧾Ingredients
👩🏻‍🍳How to Make Waldorf Salad
📖Variations
🍽 What to serve with Waldorf Salad
💭Tips for Recipe Success
❓Commonly Asked Questions
🍛More Salad Recipes!
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

⭐Why You'll Love It

Healthy Ingredients: This salad is packed with healthy goodies like apples, celery, walnuts, and yogurt. It's a tasty choice that's good for you too!

Easy to Prepare: This recipe is super easy to make, you'll be able to make it in no time.

Customizable: The Waldorf Salad is super flexible, so you can tweak it to match your taste. Adjust the spice, add extra fruits or nuts, or change up the dressing.

Flavorful: The mix of crisp apples, spicy walnuts, celery, and grapes makes for a perfect blend of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. It's a delicious combo!

Modern Twist on a Classic: Adding spicy walnuts to the classic Waldorf Salad gives it a fun and modern twist. It makes the dish even more exciting and delicious!

Perfect for Various Occasions: Whether you’re having it as a side for a family meal, taking it to a potluck, or enjoying it as a light lunch, this Waldorf Salad fits any occasion perfectly.

🧾Ingredients

All my favorite ingredients star in this salad!!

For the Spicy Walnuts:

Walnuts: I love adding walnuts to this salad because they bring a rich, nutty flavor and a great crunch. It makes the salad extra tasty! If walnuts aren't your thing, go for another nut that's similar in size and crunchiness, like pecans, almonds, or cashews. It'll keep that satisfying crunch in the salad!

Egg White: I coat the walnuts with egg whites. This helps the spices stick to the nuts while baking, giving them a delicious and slightly crispy coating.

Sugar: I add a bit of sugar to this recipe to bring some sweetness, which nicely balances the savory and spicy flavors in the salad.

Chili Powder, Paprika, Cumin Powder, Fennel Seeds: I love using these spices to add some spicy, smoky, and aromatic flavors. They give the walnuts a unique and tasty twist, making the traditional Waldorf Salad even more exciting.

For the Salad:

Stalks of Celery: I include celery in the salad because it adds crunch and a refreshing touch. It has a mild, slightly peppery taste that really complements the other ingredients.

Apples: They're a key part of the Waldorf Salad. I love pink lady apples because they bring sweetness and a juicy, crisp texture to the dish.

Grapes: I add red grapes to give the salad a fruity and colorful touch. They really brighten up the dish! Feel free to use grapes in any color you like!

For the Dressing:

Yogurt and Creme Fraiche: I use yogurt and creme fraiche to make the dressing creamy and rich. They give the salad a smooth, velvety texture that I really enjoy.

White Pepper Powder: I like to sprinkle a bit of white pepper on the salad for a gentle kick and a peppery taste. It adds just the right amount of warmth!

Lemon Juice: I love using lemon juice to give the salad a bright, citrusy flavor. It adds a refreshing zing that really lifts the whole dish! You can use lime juice or white wine vinegar instead of lemon juice.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

👩🏻‍🍳How to Make Waldorf Salad

These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.

1. In a bowl place walnuts, add the egg white, and thoroughly blend until fully incorporated.

2. Incorporate sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin powder, and fennel seeds into the mix, then toss and blend until evenly coated.

3. Arrange the coated walnuts on a baking sheet and place them in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for approximately 10 minutes or until they achieve a toasty perfection. Let them cool before serving.

4. Thinly cut the celery stalks into slender strips.

5. Take the thinly sliced celery and position it in a spacious bowl. Keep it aside for later use.

6. Place water and lemon juice in a sizable bowl. Keep it aside for later use.

7. Thinly cut the apple using a mandoline, then immerse the slices in the water with lemon juice.

8. Take the sliced apples out of the water, thinly cut them into strips, and combine them with the celery.

9. Combine yogurt, creme fraiche, white pepper powder, and lemon juice in a bowl, stirring until well mixed.

10. Drizzle the dressing onto the salad and toss until thoroughly blended.

11. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to harmonize.

12. Present the Waldorf Salad on a plate, adorned with a scattering of halved grapes around the perimeter.

13. Position the seasoned walnuts on a cutting board and proceed to finely chop them.

14. Arrange the finely chopped walnuts atop the salad and sprinkle a few spiced walnut pieces around the edges.

📖Variations

Vegan Waldorf Salad: If you prefer plant-based options, you can swap out dairy ingredients with alternatives like vegan yogurt or cashew cream. It's a great way to customize the recipe to fit your preferences!

Cranberry Waldorf Salad: I like to add dried cranberries to the salad for a sweet and tart flavor. They give it a festive twist that's really delicious!

Blue Cheese Waldorf Salad: I enjoy sprinkling crumbled blue cheese over the salad for a rich and savory addition. It goes perfectly with the sweetness of the fruits, adding a delicious contrast of flavors!

Chicken Waldorf Salad: I like to add cooked and diced chicken to make the salad more filling and turn it into a complete meal. It adds a satisfying touch!

🍽 What to serve with Waldorf Salad

I enjoy serving this Waldorf salad chilled, portioned onto individual plates for a nice, elegant presentation. To make it a satisfying meal, I often serve it with fresh bread, rolls, or crackers.

It pairs beautifully with a range of dishes. Personally, I love it alongside Chicken Skewers (Pinchitos de Pollo), Honey Garlic Chicken, Crispy Fried Chicken, Pork Tenderloin, or Pork Chops, or as a delightful side for a light lunch or dinner.

💭Tips for Recipe Success

Prevent Browning: I soak the sliced apples in water with a bit of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. It keeps the salad looking fresh and appetizing!

Seasoning Spicy Walnuts: Adjust the spiciness of the walnuts to your liking. Taste and tweak the spice mix before coating the nuts—it's all about making them just right for you!

Add Walnuts Before Serving: I recommend adding the spicy walnuts right before serving to keep them nice and crunchy. It adds a great texture to the salad!

Taste and Adjust: Before you serve the salad, give it a taste and adjust the seasoning or dressing if needed. This way, you'll have a perfectly balanced dish that everyone will enjoy!

Storage: This salad is really best when it's fresh and just made. If you have any leftovers, you can keep them in a sealed container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

❓Commonly Asked Questions

What is Waldorf Salad?

Waldorf Salad is a traditional American dish with crisp apples, celery, walnuts, and a creamy dressing, known for its sweet and savory taste. It was first made at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in the late 1800s and has remained popular for its simple and tasty mix of ingredients.