Watergate Salad

The famous Watergate Salad is a retro side or dessert “salad” with canned fruits, pistachio pudding mix, whipped cream, and crushed pistachios.

Watergate Salad is a holiday classic that pairs perfectly with other side dishes such as Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, Brussels Sprouts, and/or a Sweet Potato Casserole!

Watergate Salad

This salad was a staple in my home growing up! My aunt made this (or Frog Eye Salad) for every family potluck meal or holiday dinner. I don’t think we ever had a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner without her famous Watergate Salad. Back in the day when fresh fruit was hard to come by in the winter, this fruit salad took advantage of canned fruits to add some goodness to holiday meals.

And growing up I always wanted to know…

Why do they call it a Watergate Salad?

Seems like a strange name, no? Well, it turns out there are a few different theories out there on where the name came from. A lot of sources agree that a chef in the Watergate Hotel (in the Washington, D.C. area) created this dish and served it there as a specialty item. The dish became synonymous with where it was served, hence the name, Watergate Salad.

 

An alternate theory is that in 1975 when Kraft Foods introduced their pistachio pudding mix, they promoted it alongside this very recipe. It’s said that an editor in the Chicago newspaper reprinted the recipe and named it “Watergate Salad” to go along with the political scandal of the time.

 

So there you go! 🙂

 

Whatever you call it or believe this salad’s history to be, it’s easy to make and so delicious!

Read on about how to make this salad, what ingredients are in it, and some different variations you can try.

Ingredients in this salad

While Watergate Salad recipes vary quite a bit, I think over the years I’ve tried just about every combination! I’ve found less is more and for me, the “perfect” Watergate Salad combines crushed pineapple, pistachio pudding, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, pistachios, and whipped topping.

Making a Watergate Salad with mandarin oranges isn’t completely traditional, but we’d never make it without them! We’ve also tried this salad with cottage cheese (a common ingredient in a lot of retro salad recipes) and it was not a huge hit. If you do opt to add in cottage cheese, I’d recommend leaving out the marshmallows and testing a little bit first.

 

A few variations to try:

• Try Watergate Salad with cherries by adding 1/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries.
• Colored mini marshmallows instead of white mini marshmallows add an additional fruity flavor and fun color.
• Additional fruit: Try adding in an extra can of drained mandarin oranges, a can of drained fruit cocktail, or a sliced banana (add right before serving).
• For a lower calorie version, try using lite whipped topping.

QUICK TIP

If you aren’t a fan of pistachio, try making a Watergate Salad with lime jello! This recipe is slightly different than your typical Watergate Salad recipe but it uses a lot of the same ingredients.

Main Dishes that pair well with this salad:

• Crock Pot Roast
• Shepherd’s Pie
• Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

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Watergate Salad (Pistachio Fluff)

4.86 from 7 votes

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Creamy pistachio-flavored Watergate Salad is full of canned fruits, pistachio pudding mix, whipped cream, and crushed pistachios. This side dish salad or dessert salad is also referred to as "pistachio fluff," "green fluff," or "green goddess."

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Watergate Salad (Pistachio Fluff)

4.86 from 7 votes

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

Creamy pistachio-flavored Watergate Salad is full of canned fruits, pistachio pudding mix, whipped cream, and crushed pistachios. This side dish salad or dessert salad is also referred to as "pistachio fluff," "green fluff," or "green goddess."

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword watergate salad, watergate salad recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes

Chilling Time 45 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 8 -10 servings, as a side

Calories 213kcal

Author Chelsea

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cans (8 ounces EACH) crushed pineapple, undrained (pineapple in juice, not syrup)
• ▢ 1 package (3.4 ounce) pistachio-flavored instant pudding 4-serving size
• ▢ 1 can (14 ounces) mandarin oranges, well drained
• ▢ 3/4 cup mini marshmallows
• ▢ 1/3 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped (optional), separated
• ▢ 1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, completely thawed
• ▢ Optional: shredded coconut (1/4 cup), 1 can (15 ounces) fruit cocktail

Instructions

• Add the undrained pineapple and pudding mix to a large bowl. Stir until smooth. Add in the well-drained mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and coarsely chopped pistachios. (if desired, add in fruit cocktail here.) Gently fold together until combined.
• Using a spatula, gently fold in the thawed frozen whipped topping until all the ingredients are well covered. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to an hour. Serve chilled with a sprinkle of shredded coconut or additional crushed pistachios if desired.

Video

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 199mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 409IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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