Some salads just try too hard. This one doesn’t. The Waldorf salad has been around forever, but it still works – sweet, tangy, crunchy, creamy. You get apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts doing their thing in a way that feels easy but hits just right.

A few changes and it doesn’t have to feel like something from a 1960s cookbook. You can lighten it up, keep it vegan, or make it lean toward the savory side. And while the old-school version might call for mayo and iceberg lettuce, this one goes in a different direction – less heavy, more bite.

Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Keep it simple. Use what’s fresh and crisp. Don’t bother with anything fussy.

• 2 apples, chopped (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are solid choices)
• 1 cup red grapes, sliced in half
• 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
• ½ cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
• ½ cup plant-based or Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: butter lettuce or arugula for layering underneath

Instructions

Preparation

Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Just a few minutes – enough to bring out the flavor. Then set them aside to cool.

Chop the apples. Halve the grapes. Slice the celery thin so it doesn’t take over the texture. Throw all that in a bowl. Don’t worry about uniform cuts. Just aim for bite-sized and well mixed.

In a separate bowl, mix the yogurt, mustard, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper. You want a bit of zing without turning it sour.

Cooking

Technically, there’s no real cooking. Just the walnut toast, which is optional but worth the 3 minutes it takes.

Pour the dressing over the apple mix and stir it in gently. Don’t mash it. This salad’s all about keeping the crunch intact.

Serving

This isn’t the kind of salad you dress up with garnish and gold flakes. Serve it cold, with:

• A bed of greens, if you want to stretch it out
• Endive leaves or lettuce cups if you’re serving as finger food
• A sprinkle of extra walnuts on top

Nutritional Value Per One Serving

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 210
• Total Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 90mg
• Total Carbs: 22g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugars: 15g
• Protein: 4g

Tips and Variations

This isn’t a dish that cares about precision. You’ve got options.

• Swap apples for firm pears if they’re in season
• Use roasted sunflower seeds if walnuts aren’t your thing
• Add a few raisins or dates for extra chew

You can bulk it up with quinoa or even cold pasta if you’re pushing for more of a meal than a side.

Conclusion

The best thing about a healthy Waldorf salad is it never tries to be more than what it is. It’s quick, it’s cold, and it tastes like all the parts are doing their job. Whether you’re keeping it simple or tweaking it into a vegan Waldorf salad, the flavor still lands. A little crunch. A little sweet. And just enough creamy to bring it together. No mess. No fluff. Just food that gets it right.

Hungry for more? Explore our handpicked collection of delicious salad recipes.