Have you ever forgotten that you’re supposed to bring a side dish to a potluck until a few hours before? Well this is the dish for you! You seriously throw the ingredients together, leave it in the fridge for a couple hours and ta-da! Your friends and neighbors will love this dessert salad filled with pineapple, marshmallows, pecans, and pistachio pudding.The fluffy texture of the marshmallows, the crunch of the nuts, and the creamy pistachio pudding all combine for a delightful treat. You won’t have to worry about leftovers either – I guarantee the bowl will be licked clean!
Why is it called Watergate Salad?
This classic Watergate salad is known by many names – Pistachio Salad, Pistachio Delight, Pistachio Fluff, Green Stuff, Green Fluff, Fluff Salad and my least favorite, Green Goop. But where did the Watergate salad name come from? There are several urban legends about where the name of this salad came from. However, the most common story is that a sous chef at the historic Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. came up with this recipe. It was served at brunch most weekends and eventually gained popularity after the Watergate Scandal. People say it’s the perfect name because the Cool Whip is a great “cover-up” for all the ingredients and it is full of nuts!
Watergate Salad Ingredients
There are 5 simple and easy to find ingredients in this salad:
Instant pistachio pudding mixFrozen dessert whipped topping (we like to use the Cool Whip brand)Crushed pineapple, with the pineapple juicePecans, halved or choppedMini marshmallows (white or the fruity, colorful ones)
Recipe Variations
This Watergate Salad is AMAZING just by itself. However, if you are wanting to jazz the flavor up a little bit, there are some things you can do.
Garnishes
First, you can add some garnishes. Top it with chopped nuts – I like to use either pistachios, walnuts, or pecans. You can also lean into the sweetness and top it with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. The bright red cherry is the perfect complement to the green color of the salad.
Additions and Substitutions
Some people like to add more fruit like mandarin oranges or bananas. However you want to serve it – your guests will love it! Let us know in the comments if there is another way that you like to serve this salad!To make this more of an ambrosia salad, you can replace the crushed pineapple with a can of fruit cocktail and add coconut. The pastel colored mini marshmallows can also be used in place of the mini white marshmallows.If you aren’t a fan of pecans, walnuts or pistachios can be used instead.
More Easy Fruit Salad Recipes
Hopefully the weather will be warming up soon and you and your friends and neighbors will be planning your spring picnics and potlucks. I get tired of bringing the same old thing, so I like to try something new every once in a while. Check out some of our other potluck favorites for you to try out next time!
Nuts About Berries Salad
Snickers Salad
Cream Cheese Fruit Dip: Quick and Easy Recipe with Only 4 Ingredients
Easy Fruit Salad
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