This Skinny Waldorf Salad is a mix of fresh fruit and veggies with a light dressing. It is the perfect side salad during the holidays or to take to your next potluck or gathering with friends. Everyone will love the creamy dressing paired with the fresh fruit flavors. The crisp apples, sweet grapes, crunchy celery, and pecans all combine together to make something every salad lover is going to enjoy.
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Why You’ll Love This Skinny Waldorf Salad With Greek Yogurt!
I think a Waldorf salad is one of those easy recipes that just delivers on flavor every single time. This crowd-pleaser of a dish is perfect for your next special event. Not only does the creamy yogurt dressing help to balance the flavors, but you also have the freshness from a few simple ingredients that give a sweet and savory tang to your taste buds.
While this will make a delicious side salad dish at your holiday gatherings, you could also turn it into a refreshing summer meal by making a chicken Waldorf salad. Add it to sandwiches for a light lunch, or enjoy it with grilled chicken breast or turkey. However, you make it, you can't go wrong with the classic salad recipe. While there are tons of salads worthy of your table this holiday season, this Skinny Waldorf salad will be a great addition!
- Easy to make -by simply chopping a few fruits and vegetables and mixing a dressing, this salad comes together in minutes.
- A nutritious option - The light yogurt-based dressing helps to make the fruit the star of the show.
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What Is A Waldorf Salad?
This salad was first introduced back in 1896 at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The salad soon became a huge hit and has become the American classic known as a Waldorf Salad. Generally, a Waldorf salad consists of fruit and nut ingredients that are bound together with a mayonnaise-based dressing. In this version we are making it a bit lighter by using Greek yogurt instead of the traditional mayonnaise dressing.
Equipment Needed
- Large bowl
- Sharp knife
- Whisk or spoon
- Cutting board
Key Ingredients
red grapes - The red grapes add color and sweetness to this delicious salad.
dried cherries - Dried cherries add a great sweet and tangy flavor and chewy texture.
apples - You can use any type of apple, green, or red-skinned apple variety. A mix of colors will make this salad visually appealing.
pecans - Pecans will add much-needed crunch and extra texture to your fruit salad. You may find walnuts are used in a traditional Waldorf salad and you can use them instead if you wish.
celery - has a mild flavor but adds lots of crunch to the salad.
lettuce - any type of lettuce will work for building a bed of greens for serving the Waldorf salad. I like butter lettuce or bib lettuce for a pretty presentation.
Greek yogurt - Greek yogurt is lighter in flavor and calories and lets the other ingredients shine. Non-fat yogurt will also be a great substitution.
vinegar-adds a little tanginess to the dressing and the acid will help keep the apples from browning.
honey -adds the perfect balance of sweetness.
salt and black pepper - extra seasoning helps to bring everything together. You can adjust the seasoning to suit your tastes.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Start by washing and chopping the grapes, celery, and apples on a cutting board.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
Add the chopped fruit, vegetables, pecans, and dried cherries to the dressing. Use a spoon to mix well and coat everything with the dressing.
Serving
Serve the low-calorie Waldorf salad on a bed of fresh lettuce. It is best when freshly made but will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Surprisingly the acid in the apple cider vinegar and Greek yogurt keep the apples from browning.
Storage
You will find that most salads that include dairy can’t be left out for too long. Try and avoid having this salad out on the table for more than two hours without being refrigerated.
If you do have any leftovers then you can transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the fresh produce this classic Waldorf salad won’t freeze well.
Substitutions And Additions
- chicken and bacon - You could add some cooked rotisserie chicken and bacon to this salad. The lean protein works well with the ingredients and the salty bacon balances with the sweet flavors.
- grapes - You can use red or green grapes for this recipe or use a mixture of the two for a pop of color.
- dried cherries - We have used dried cherries in this recipe but you can easily leave them out if you prefer. Or why not substitute them for raisins or other dried berries?
- apples- I used both Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples. The mix of apples adds different colors and the tart apples are a great contrast in flavor.
- dressing - You could double up the quantities of the dressing if you prefer a creamier salad. For a richer flavor you could add 2 tablespoons of mayo.
- red onion- will add a peppery, spicy flavor to your salad.
- nuts and seeds- any nuts will work in a Waldorf salad. I used pecans instead of the crunchy walnuts that are commonly used in a Waldorf salad. You could also add sunflower seeds or poppyseeds if you like.
- apple cider vinegar- can be substituted with a little lemon juice if you prefer.
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, and a 5- star rating. I would love to hear from you! Subscribe Here to get new recipes sent straight to your inbox!
Skinny Waldorf Salad Recipe With Greek Yogurt
Ingredients
- 1 cup grapes, halved
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 large apples, diced
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
- ¼ cup dried cherries
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- lettuce leaves for serving
Instructions
- Start by washing and chopping the grapes, celery, and apples.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Add the chopped fruit, vegetables, pecans and dried cherries to the dressing. Use a spoon to mix well and coat everything with the dressing.
- Serve the Waldorf salad on a bed of lettuce. It is best when freshly made but will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
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