Easy & Crisp Mary Berry Waldorf Salad Recipe for Fresh Meals

Mary Berry’s waldorf salad transforms ordinary ingredients into a culinary symphony of crisp textures and vibrant flavors.

Fresh seasonal produce dances together in this iconic recipe, creating a delightful balance between sweet and tangy notes.

Generations of home cooks have embraced this versatile dish for its simple yet sophisticated profile.

Elegant yet unpretentious, the salad represents a perfect blend of traditional and modern culinary sensibilities.

Each ingredient plays a crucial role in developing a harmonious taste experience that delights the palate.

Nutritious and refreshing, the recipe offers a delectable approach to enjoying wholesome ingredients in a single, memorable dish: dive into this timeless classic and savor every bite.

Why Mary Berry’s Waldorf Salad Is Crisp and Classic

• Savor the Crisp Contrast: This Waldorf salad delivers an incredible textural symphony with crunchy celery, juicy apples, and tender raisins that dance together in every delightful bite.
• Whip Up a Speedy Sensation: Requiring just one hour from start to finish, this recipe offers a quick and effortless way to create a classic dish that looks and tastes impressively gourmet without complicated techniques.
• Customize Your Culinary Delight: The flexible recipe welcomes personal twists like swapping dried cranberries for raisins or adjusting seasonings, making it perfect for home cooks who love to experiment and make a recipe their own.
• Elevate Your Healthy Lunch Game: Packed with nutritious ingredients like Greek yogurt, fresh fruits, and crunchy nuts, this salad provides a balanced and satisfying meal that feels indulgent while supporting wellness goals.

Ingredients You’ll Need for a True Waldorf

• Apples: Crisp and sweet base of the salad, choose firm variety like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
• Celery: Adds crunchy texture and fresh flavor, select stalks that are bright green and firm.
• Lettuce: Provides a fresh bed for serving the salad, crisp romaine or butter lettuce works best.

• Walnuts: Brings rich, nutty crunch to the salad, raw or lightly toasted for deeper flavor.
• Raisins or Dried Cranberries: Adds natural sweetness and chewy texture, choose plump and moist varieties.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base for the dressing, provides rich and smooth consistency.
• Greek Yogurt: Adds tanginess and lightens the dressing, choose full-fat for better flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Provides bright acidity and helps prevent apples from browning.
• Salt and Pepper: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the fruits.

How to Toss the Waldorf Salad Mary’s Way

Step 1: Prepare Salad Ingredients

• 2 crisp apples (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), diced into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• Walnuts, roughly chopped
• Raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

Step 2: Create Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Greek yogurt
• Fresh lemon juice
• Salt
• Black pepper

Whisk until smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Combine Salad Components

Pour the creamy dressing over the chopped ingredients in a large bowl. Gently toss everything together, ensuring each piece gets evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 4: Chill and Marinate

Cover the salad and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This resting time allows the flavors to meld and develop a more complex taste.

Step 5: Serve and Garnish

Arrange fresh lettuce leaves on a serving platter or individual plates. Spoon the chilled Waldorf salad mixture over the lettuce. Optionally, sprinkle additional chopped walnuts on top for extra crunch.

Tips for Crunchy, Balanced Flavors

• Preserve Apple Freshness: Splash lemon juice quickly over chopped apple pieces to block oxidation and maintain bright white color.
• Select Crunch-Perfect Apples: Pick firm varieties like Granny Smith or Fuji that maintain structural integrity and deliver satisfying texture.
• Customize Creamy Levels: Adjust mayonnaise quantity to create lighter or richer dressing based on personal preference.
• Balance Flavor Intensity: Taste and modify seasonings gradually, allowing each ingredient to shine without overwhelming others.
• Elevate Presentation: Garnish with extra toasted walnuts or fresh parsley for visual appeal and complementary crunch.

Storage Know-How for Fruit and Nut Salads

• Refrigerator Preservation: Transfer the Waldorf salad to a sealed glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Prevent moisture buildup by placing a paper towel on top of the salad before closing the container, which absorbs excess liquid and maintains ingredient crispness.
• Ingredient Separation: Store mayonnaise-based components separately from crisp vegetables and fruits. Keep chopped apples, celery, and lettuce in individual containers to prevent sogginess and maintain their fresh texture. Add nuts just before serving to preserve their crunch and prevent moisture absorption.
• Optimal Consumption Window: Enjoy the Waldorf salad within 24-36 hours for peak flavor and texture. After this period, the salad's ingredients will start losing their vibrant crispness and the dressing may separate.

Waldorf Salad With a Modern Makeover

• Tropical Paradise Waldorf: Swap apples with diced mango and pineapple, add shredded coconut, and use lime juice instead of lemon for a vibrant Caribbean-inspired version.
• Mediterranean Fusion Waldorf: Replace walnuts with toasted pine nuts, add crumbled feta cheese, and mix in chopped fresh mint for a Greek-style transformation.
• Autumn Harvest Waldorf: Incorporate diced roasted butternut squash, swap raisins for dried cranberries, and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds for a seasonal autumn feel.
• Protein Power Waldorf: Mix in grilled chicken breast cubes, replace Greek yogurt with Greek-style protein yogurt, and add a handful of quinoa for extra nutrition and substance.

Final Taste Notes on Mary’s Waldorf

Classic culinary heritage shines through Mary Berry’s Waldorf Salad, blending crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and tangy dressing into a delightful symphony of textures.

Fresh ingredients dance together, creating a refreshing masterpiece that celebrates British cooking traditions.

Sophisticated yet simple, this recipe transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary experience.

Generations of home cooks have cherished this timeless dish, passing down its elegant charm.

Crisp celery and sweet fruits harmonize with creamy dressing, promising a memorable dining moment.

Keen cooks and salad enthusiasts: share this recipe, spark conversation, and inspire kitchen adventures across social platforms!

Mary Berry Waldorf Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Mary Berry’s classic Waldorf salad combines crisp apples, crunchy celery, and tender chicken in a creamy dressing. Rich with walnuts and grapes, this elegant dish brings refreshing flavors that dance across your palate with British culinary sophistication.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 2 large apples, cored and chopped
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) celery, sliced
• 1 cup (150 grams) walnuts, roughly chopped

Binding Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
• ½ cup (120 grams) Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice

Garnish and Optional Ingredients:

• ½ cup (75 grams) raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Lettuce leaves, for serving

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Instructions

1. Gather crisp, fresh apples and slice them into uniform, bite-sized cubes to ensure consistent texture and flavor distribution.
2. Finely chop celery stalks into thin, delicate pieces that will provide a satisfying crunch and subtle herbaceous note to the salad.
3. Roughly chop walnuts into rustic, uneven fragments to create varied textural elements and enhance the nutty undertone.
4. Incorporate raisins or dried cranberries, distributing them evenly throughout the apple mixture for bursts of sweet-tart complexity.
5. Prepare the creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise (8 fluid ounces / 240 milliliters), Greek yogurt (4 fluid ounces / 120 milliliters), freshly squeezed lemon juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a separate mixing bowl.
6. Gently fold the dressing into the apple mixture, ensuring each ingredient is thoroughly and delicately coated without crushing the delicate components.
7. Cover the salad and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes, allowing the flavors to harmonize and intensify while chilling the ingredients.
8. Before serving, layer crisp lettuce leaves on a decorative platter or individual plates as an elegant base for the Waldorf salad.
9. Spoon the chilled salad mixture atop the lettuce, creating an visually appealing presentation that highlights the colorful ingredients.

Notes

• Elevate this classic salad by toasting walnuts, which releases their deep, aromatic essence and provides a warm, nutty crunch to every bite.
• Crisp Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples deliver the perfect tartness and textural contrast, making the salad incredibly vibrant and refreshing.
• Dried cranberries introduce a surprising burst of crimson color and sweet-tart complexity that dances alongside the creamy dressing.
• Chilling the salad for at least 30 minutes allows flavors to meld, transforming individual ingredients into a harmonious culinary experience.
• Fresh, high-quality ingredients are the secret weapon, turning this simple dish into a remarkable celebration of texture and taste.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer
• Method: None
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 300 kcal
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg