Best Waldorf Salad and Dressing Recipe - Modern Healthy Versions

The taste of traditional Waldorf Salad, though nice, taste tends to be swamped by the mayo or dressing. It can also be high in sugar and calories, and often has a high fat content as well.

But it doesn't have to be that way. A 100 g serving of Waldorf salad has 120 calories and 5 g of fat. The chicken salad version has 235 Calories and 11 g of Fat, which is equivalent to that of cheeseburgers.

Modern Waldorf salads have less mayo and dressing and the traditional apple and walnuts are supplemented with grains, lettuce and salad greens.

This adds bulk and reduced the calorie density. The mayo is replaced with a lighter vinaigrette.

Discover how to make a modern Waldorf salad that is tastier and healthier. See a suite of fabulous recipes to try.

Waldorf Salad Recipe with Apple Cider Vinegar Vinaigrette

Ingredients

For the salad

3/4 cup walnut pieces, toasted
1 small fennel bulb, roughly chopped
1 cup small grapes, halved (seedless preferred)
1 large apple apple, cored and diced (peeling optional)
6 outer leaves from a large radicchio (or lettuce instead)

For the Vinaigrette

1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup of cooked couscous
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup grape seed or rice bran oil (or other neutral tasting oil)

Make the vinaigrette by whisking the vinegar, honey and oil in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

To make the salad, add the fennel, grapes, apple, walnuts and couscous to a bowl and mix well. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss. Spoon the Waldorf salad in to radicchio or lettuce leaves.

Low Fat Traditional Waldorf Salad Recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup raisins
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1/2 cup celery, finely sliced
1/2 cup low fat whipping cream
1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (toasted referred)
4 medium golden apples, cored and diced (about 4 cups)

Method

Add the apples to a large bowl and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Add the grapes, walnuts, celery and raisins.

To make the dressing, mix the mayonnaise with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Next, whip the cream with the sugar until stiff. Fold the whipped cream into the mayonnaise mixture. Spoon the apple mixture into lettuce leaves, add some dressing and sprinkle with nutmeg. Chill for 30-90 minutes before serving.

Healthy Chicken Waldorf Salad with Mustard and Greek Yogurt Recipe

Ingredients

For the Dressing

zest of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1-1/2 teaspoons honey mustard
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

For the Salad

1/4 cup toasted walnuts
1 cup finely sliced celery
2 apples, cored and chopped
2 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
8 oz (250g) chicken braised breasts, finely chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries (or blueberries, or sultanas)
1 large head of lettuce, washed and torn into medium size pieces

Method

Mix all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Toss the apples, celery, chicken, walnuts and cranberries together in a large bowl. Spoon one the dressing and mix well. Serve on a bed of torn lettuce leaves. Dress with parsley or other chopped fresh herbs.

Mayo-Free Waldorf Salad Recipe with Mixed Nuts

Ingredients

1/2 cup raisins
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups chopped apples
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup of chopped lettuce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon strong flavored honey (optional)

Method

Mix the oil, yogurt, lemon juice and honey (if required) in a small bowl. Pour over the fruit, lettuce and nuts in a large bowl or smaller serving bowls. Refrigerate for an hour or two before serving, dressed with fresh herbs and seasoned with salt and pepper.