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Classic Waldorf Salad Recipe

Classic Waldorf Salad Recipe

5 from 18 reviews

Classic Waldorf Salad is a refreshing and crunchy salad featuring a creamy dressing made from Greek yogurt and mayonnaise, combined with diced green apples, celery, halved grapes, toasted walnuts, and fresh parsley. Perfect as a light lunch or side dish, this salad balances sweet, tart, and savory flavors for a timeless favorite.

Ingredients

Scale

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt (dairy or dairy-free)
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Salad

  • 2 green apples, diced
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup grapes, halved
  • 1 cup whole walnuts or pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Optional: butter lettuce leaves for serving

Instructions

  1. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and honey. Stir well until smooth and creamy. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
  2. Prepare the salad ingredients: Dice the green apples and celery into bite-sized pieces. Halve the grapes and toast the walnuts or pecans lightly until fragrant, then roughly chop them. Finely chop the parsley.
  3. Toss everything together: In a large bowl, combine the diced apples, celery, halved grapes, toasted nuts, chopped parsley, and kosher salt. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
  4. Serve: Spoon the Waldorf salad onto butter lettuce leaves if desired, or serve in a bowl chilled. Enjoy immediately for best freshness and crunch.

Notes

  • You can substitute walnuts with pecans based on preference.
  • For a vegan version, use plant-based yogurt and mayonnaise.
  • To keep apples from browning, toss them in a little lemon juice before mixing.
  • Serve the salad chilled for the best flavor and texture.
  • The salad can be prepared a few hours in advance but is best consumed fresh.

Nutrition

Keywords: Waldorf salad, classic Waldorf, apple salad, celery salad, healthy salad, creamy dressing, walnut salad