Watergate Salad Recipe
This vintage pistachio salad is a classic sweet treat — with just 5 minutes of prep!
Course Dessert, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Green Fluff, Pistachio salad, watergate salad recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings people
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Calories 218.3 kcal
Author Blair
Ingredients
list of 7 items
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, NOT drained
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant pistachio pudding (or use a 1-ounce box of sugar-free instant pudding)
1 cup miniature marshmallows
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
Maraschino cherries, for topping
list end
Instructions
list of 3 items
1. In a large bowl, stir together pineapple (and its juice), dry pudding mix, marshmallows, pecans and coconut. Gently fold in the whipped topping.
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (and up to 24 hours).
3. Give everything a gentle stir just before serving. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
list end
Recipe Notes
Write list…
• How to make Watergate Salad fluffy: Do not thaw the Cool Whip on the countertop. Instead, allow at least 4-5 hours for the Cool Whip to thaw in the refrigerator.
This will maintain its fluffy texture. Next, make sure that you gently fold the Cool Whip into the salad — do not stir. This will maintain the air in the
whipped topping.• Prepare the Salad in Advance: The salad needs at least 1 hour to chill in the refrigerator and “set up” before serving, and can easily
be made a day ahead. The salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. After about 24 hours, however, the texture of the salad is less fluffy.•
Can I freeze Watergate Salad? I do not recommend freezing this recipe, since the texture of the marshmallows will be “off” when thawed. The salad will
not maintain its fluffy texture, either.• Some versions of Watergate Salad incorporate the maraschino cherries into the salad (rather than just using them
as a garnish). If you’d like to do this, I recommend rinsing the cherries and patting them dry first. Otherwise, they will turn your salad pink.• Any nuts
will work in this salad, so feel free to swap out the pecans and use walnuts, almonds or pistachios instead.• If you’re looking for a similar green fruit
salad, you can try
this version (opens in a new tab)
with lime Jell-O and cottage cheese.
Nutrition Facts
Watergate Salad Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 /8 of the salad)
Calories 218.3 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 3.6g23%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.6g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Sodium 140mg6%
Potassium 114.9mg3%
Carbohydrates 31.5g11%
Fiber 1.8g8%
Sugar 12.5g14%
Protein 1.7g3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
From the seasoned mom
This vintage pistachio salad is a classic sweet treat — with just 5 minutes of prep!
Course Dessert, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Green Fluff, Pistachio salad, watergate salad recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings people
undefined
Calories 218.3 kcal
Author Blair
Ingredients
list of 7 items
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, NOT drained
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant pistachio pudding (or use a 1-ounce box of sugar-free instant pudding)
1 cup miniature marshmallows
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
Maraschino cherries, for topping
list end
Instructions
list of 3 items
1. In a large bowl, stir together pineapple (and its juice), dry pudding mix, marshmallows, pecans and coconut. Gently fold in the whipped topping.
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (and up to 24 hours).
3. Give everything a gentle stir just before serving. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
list end
Recipe Notes
Write list…
• How to make Watergate Salad fluffy: Do not thaw the Cool Whip on the countertop. Instead, allow at least 4-5 hours for the Cool Whip to thaw in the refrigerator.
This will maintain its fluffy texture. Next, make sure that you gently fold the Cool Whip into the salad — do not stir. This will maintain the air in the
whipped topping.• Prepare the Salad in Advance: The salad needs at least 1 hour to chill in the refrigerator and “set up” before serving, and can easily
be made a day ahead. The salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. After about 24 hours, however, the texture of the salad is less fluffy.•
Can I freeze Watergate Salad? I do not recommend freezing this recipe, since the texture of the marshmallows will be “off” when thawed. The salad will
not maintain its fluffy texture, either.• Some versions of Watergate Salad incorporate the maraschino cherries into the salad (rather than just using them
as a garnish). If you’d like to do this, I recommend rinsing the cherries and patting them dry first. Otherwise, they will turn your salad pink.• Any nuts
will work in this salad, so feel free to swap out the pecans and use walnuts, almonds or pistachios instead.• If you’re looking for a similar green fruit
salad, you can try
this version (opens in a new tab)
with lime Jell-O and cottage cheese.
Nutrition Facts
Watergate Salad Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 /8 of the salad)
Calories 218.3 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 3.6g23%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.6g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Sodium 140mg6%
Potassium 114.9mg3%
Carbohydrates 31.5g11%
Fiber 1.8g8%
Sugar 12.5g14%
Protein 1.7g3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
From the seasoned mom
