Mom’s Waldorf Salad

There are many variations of Waldorf Salad and I loved it when Mom prepared it with its fresh fruity taste for dinner. 

Waldorf salad was created in the 1890’s at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City and became an instant success. The maitre d’hôtel (not the chef), Oscar Tschirky, was the man who created this and many other dishes at the hotel.  The salad is traditionally based on apples with walnuts and celery added, dressed in mayonnaise, served on a bed of lettuce.  Nuts were not in the original salad until the early 1900’s.  To this day, it remains one of the most requested dishes at the hotel's restaurant.  And, due to the popularity of the salad, Cole Porter even incorporated it into a song of his, “You’re the Top.” 

Like I said, there are many versions of this salad with an array of ingredients, some of which are:  dried cherries or cranberries, raisins, dates, chicken, turkey and grapes.  Any of these combinations are fine and will serve you up with a great Waldorf Salad!

Mom’s Waldorf Salad

Ingredients:

4 large tart red apples, cored and diced (do not peel)

¾ cup celery, finely chopped

1/3 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

¼ cup raisins

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2/3 cup-1 cup mayonnaise (I use low-fat mayo)

1 tablespoon sugar (I use Splenda)

2 tablespoons half and half

Method:

Combine first four ingredients and sprinkle lemon juice over it, toss lightly.
Mix mayonnaise with sugar and half and half.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.

Dress the salad and chill before serving.

Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, NYC

Hotel Lobby

Waldorf salad is  almost as good as being at the Waldorf Hotel!  It is good eating!