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Fresh Waldorf Salad Recipe Easy Homemade Classic Crunchy Delight with Real Walnuts

fresh Waldorf salad - featured image

A classic Waldorf salad featuring crisp apples, celery, juicy grapes, and real walnuts tossed in a creamy homemade dressing. This fresh, crunchy delight is quick to prepare and perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large crisp apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), cored and chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved (optional)
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Core and chop the apples into roughly 1/2-inch pieces. Toss them immediately in a bowl with 1 tablespoon lemon juice to prevent browning.
  2. Thinly slice the celery stalks into small, bite-sized pieces and set aside.
  3. Wash and cut the grapes in half. Drain any excess water.
  4. Roughly chop the walnuts. Optionally, toast them lightly in a dry pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon-coated apples, sliced celery, grapes, walnuts, and raisins if using. Pour the dressing over and gently fold everything together with a spatula or large spoon.
  7. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors marry. Serve chilled.

Notes

Use crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to keep the salad crunchy. Toss apples immediately with lemon juice to prevent browning. Toast walnuts lightly for extra flavor if desired. Fold ingredients gently to avoid breaking apple pieces. Prepare dressing just before serving if making in advance to keep ingredients fresh.

Nutrition

Keywords: Waldorf salad, fresh salad, walnut salad, classic Waldorf, crunchy salad, easy salad recipe, homemade dressing