The Classic Waldorf Salad recipe

This refreshing and crunchy Waldorf Salad is a timeless American classic, combining crisp apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts in a creamy, tangy mayonnaise dressing. It's perfect as a light lunch, a side dish for a picnic, or a festive addition to any meal.

Servings: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 0 minutes Total time: 15 minutes (plus chilling time) Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 2 medium apples (~300 g), such as Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith, cored and diced

• 2 stalks celery (~100 g), finely chopped

• 150 g (1 cup) red or green grapes, halved

• 60 g (1/2 cup) walnuts, roughly chopped

• 4 large lettuce leaves (optional, for serving)

For the Dressing:

• 120 g (1/2 cup) mayonnaise

• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice

• 2 g (1/4 teaspoon) salt

• 1 g (1/8 teaspoon) black pepper

• 5 g (1 teaspoon) sugar or honey (optional, for a touch of sweetness)

Equipment

• Cutting board

• Sharp knife

• Large mixing bowl

• Small bowl

• Whisk or fork

Instructions

1. Prepare the Salad Ingredients (5 minutes):

   • Wash and core the apples, then dice them into bite-sized pieces.

   • Wash the celery stalks and finely chop them.

   • Wash the grapes and halve them.

   • Roughly chop the walnuts.

   • Place all prepared salad ingredients (apples, celery, grapes, walnuts) into a large mixing bowl.

2. Make the Dressing (3 minutes):

   • In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and optional sugar or honey.

   • Whisk until the dressing is smooth and well combined.

3. Combine and Chill (2 minutes):

   • Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the large mixing bowl.

   • Gently toss everything together until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.

   • Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.

4. Serve (5 minutes):

   • Before serving, give the salad another gentle stir.

   • You can serve the Waldorf salad directly from the bowl, or for a more elegant presentation, serve it on a bed of fresh lettuce leaves.

Tips & Variations

• Chill Thoroughly: For the best flavor and texture, make sure to chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.

• Toast Your Walnuts: For an extra layer of flavor and crunch, lightly toast the walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat for a few minutes until fragrant before adding them to the salad.

• Prevent Apple Browning: If you're prepping ahead, toss the diced apples with a tiny bit of lemon juice before adding them to the salad to help prevent browning.

• Protein Boost: Add 120 g (1 cup) of cooked, diced chicken or turkey breast to make it a more substantial meal.

• Vegan Version: Easily make this vegan by using a plant-based mayonnaise alternative.

• Fruit & Nut Swap: Experiment with other fruits like dried cranberries or diced pears, and different nuts like pecans or almonds.

Estimated Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 320 kcal

• Protein: 4 g

• Carbs: 25 g

• Fat: 24 g

Shopping List

• Apples

• Celery

• Grapes

• Walnuts

• Mayonnaise

• Lemon

• Salt

• Black pepper

• Sugar or honey (optional)

• Lettuce (optional)

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Quick summary: Classic Waldorf Salad with apples, celery, grapes, walnuts, and a creamy lemon-mayo dressing.