Waldorf Salad Recipe

Waldorf Salad Recipe is an old fashioned salad made with apples, apple juice, mayonnaise, celery, grapes, pecans, and coconut.

My first cook book that contained this famous recipe listed walnuts and French Dressing as ingredients. 

I did not like the salad with French Dressing.

Then I found a Waldorf Salad Recipe that contained grapes and lemon juice.

Instead of walnuts and grapes, I used pecans and raisins.

Years later, I ate the perfect Waldorf Salad in a local cafeteria.

The chef refused to share his recipe.

So, I took a dogie bag of salad home with me and started my usual tasting analysis to duplicate the dish.

Here is the secret to the perfect recipe.

Use fresh, whole grapes!

Grapes are juicier, not as sweet as raisins, and are full flavored.

They will also enhance your coconut flavor, best.

Waldorf Salad  Recipe

• 4 cups fresh unpeeled red apples, cored and cubed (about 3-4 large apples)
  
  
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  
  
• 2 tablespoons apple juice
  
  
• 1/3 cup celery, cubed (about 1 stalk)
  
  
• 1 cup fresh seedless grapes (can substitute 1/3 cup light or dark raisins)
  
  
• 1/3 cup broken pecans (can substitute walnuts)
  
  
• flaked coconut*
  
  

• lettuce or spinach leaves
  
  

In a 2 qt. (or larger) mixing bowl, mix the mayonnaise and apple juice until it is smooth with no remaining lumps.

Add apples and stir to coat well.

Fold in celery, grapes, and nuts.

Mix well.

Chill in the refrigerator a few hours for best flavor.

When ready to serve, place a lettuce leaf or a few fresh spinach leaves on a salad bowl or plate.

Heap apple mixture in the center of your salad greens and sprinkle generously with the coconut.

This excellent salad pairs well with turkey or chicken entrees!


*If possible, use fresh grated coconut, for an ultimate dinning experience!

Waldorf Salad Tip

Add apples to mayonnaise and apple juice mixture as you cut them up, to help prevent them from turning dark.

Original Waldorf Salad Recipe

Peel two raw apples and cut them into small pieces, say about half an inch square, also cut some celery the same way, and mix it with the apples.

Be very careful not to let any seeds of the apples get mixed in with it.

The salad must be dressed with a good mayonnaise.


---The Cookbook by "Oscar" of the Waldorf, Oscar Tschirky [Saafield Publishing Company:Chicago] 1908 , copyright 1896 (p. 433)

I like the pecans better than the walnuts in this recipe because they do not overpower the amazing taste of the fresh apples.

I also like fresh whole grapes better than raisins because of their mild taste.

If you have not already tried it, substitute the  raisins for the grapes and the walnuts for the pecans to determine which version you and your family enjoy the most. 

That will be fun!

Bon appétit (I wish you) a hearty appetite.

Chicken, and groundbeef dishes are delicious paired with this Waldorf Salad, making a vitamin packed lunch or dinner for your family.

History Of Waldorf Salad Recipe

The original, simple recipe was created by Oscar Tschirky, the dinning room manager and server at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, in New York City sometime between 1893 and 1896.

Tschirky's first version of the recipe contained only celery, apples, and mayonnaise as is in the copywritten book he authored. 

At some time later, someone added chopped walnuts to the recipe.

George Rector a writer, listed chopped walnuts in his list of ingredients in his The Rector Cook Book that he published in 1928.

Walnuts became a standard in the Waldorf Salad recipe after then.

Related Pages

Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Quick And Easy Fruit Salad Recipe

Watermelon Salad Recipe

Return to Salad Recipes


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