Home > Salads > Fruit Salads > Watergate Salad Watergate Salad November 5, 2018 | 10 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. This famous Watergate Salad is a retro side dish or dessert that features canned fruits, pistachio pudding mix, whipped cream, and crushed pistachios. Watergate Salad is a holiday classic that pairs perfectly with other side dishes like Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, Brussels Sprouts, and Sweet Potato Casserole! Watergate Salad Growing up, this salad was a cornerstone of our family gatherings. My aunt would prepare either this or Frog Eye Salad for every potluck or holiday dinner. In fact, it was unthinkable to have a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner without her renowned Watergate Salad on the table. In times when fresh fruit was scarce during winter, this salad, also known as Pistachio Salad, brilliantly used canned fruits to bring a touch of sweetness to our festive feasts. Our version, I must say, is the best out there. And as a child, I was always curious to know… Why Do They Call It A Watergate Salad? The name seems unusual, doesn’t it? There are several theories about its origin. Many sources concur that a chef at the Watergate Hotel in the Washington, D.C. area concocted this dish and it became a specialty item there. As a result, the dish took on the name of the place it was popularized: Watergate Salad. Another theory suggests that in 1975, when Kraft Foods launched their pistachio pudding mix, they promoted this exact recipe. Rumor has it that an editor from a Chicago newspaper reprinted the recipe and dubbed it “Watergate Salad” to align with the political scandal of that era. Ingredients In This Salad Watergate Salad recipes vary widely, but over the years, I believe I’ve tried nearly every combination. I’ve discovered that simplicity is key. For me, the ideal Watergate Salad consists of crushed pineapple, pistachio pudding, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, pistachios, and whipped topping. Crushed Pineapple: Adds fruity sweetness and its juice helps activate and hydrate the pistachio pudding mix. Pistachio-flavored Instant Pudding: Provides pistachio flavor and thickens the salad for a creamy consistency. Mandarin Oranges: Offer tangy flavor and a contrasting citrusy texture. Mini Marshmallows: Contribute sweetness and a chewy texture. Pistachios: Enhance the pistachio flavor, add crunch, and a hint of saltiness. Frozen Whipped Topping: Gives the salad its creamy and delicious texture. Optional Ingredients: Shredded Coconut: Adds tropical flavor and texture. Fruit Cocktail: Introduces varied fruity flavors and textures. How To Make Watergate Salad It’s as simple as this: Mix undrained pineapple and pistachio pudding in a large bowl. Add mandarin oranges, marshmallows, and pistachios. Fold in thawed whipped topping. Refrigerate for 45 minutes. Serve chilled, optionally topped with coconut or more pistachios. STORAGE How To Store Watergate Salad: Covered Container: Transfer the salad to an airtight container or cover the original bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigeration: Store the salad in the refrigerator. Duration: For best freshness and taste, consume the salad within 2-3 days. VARIATIONS Switch Things Up For a cherry twist, add 1/4 cup of chopped maraschino cherries. Using colored mini marshmallows instead of white ones adds both a fruity flavor and a splash of fun color. For more fruitiness, you can add an extra can of drained mandarin oranges, a can of drained fruit cocktail, or slice in a banana just before serving. For a lower-calorie version, opt for lite whipped topping. More Dessert Salads Snickers Salad with diced snickers bars Ambrosia Salad colorful and delicious Orange Fluff Salad 5-ingredients Candy Salad completely customizable Creamy Fruit Salad creamy cheesecake dressing FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Watergate Salad (Pistachio Fluff) 4.86 from 7 votes - Review this recipe This famous Watergate Salad is a retro side dish or dessert that features canned fruits, pistachio pudding mix, whipped cream, and crushed pistachios. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Watergate Salad (Pistachio Fluff) 4.86 from 7 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe This famous Watergate Salad is a retro side dish or dessert that features canned fruits, pistachio pudding mix, whipped cream, and crushed pistachios. Course Side Dish Cuisine American Keyword watergate salad, watergate salad recipe Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Chilling Time 45 minutes minutes Total Time 15 minutes minutes Servings 8 -10 servings, as a side Chelsea Lords Calories 213kcal Author Chelsea Lords 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 cocktailUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsAdd 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 FactsCalories: 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. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! 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I had never heard of this salad before but I decided to give it a try and it was delicious! Thanks! Reply
Love this fluffy stuff! Jello and pudding salads are such an awesome staple at our family gatherings. This recipe is so good and easy! Reply
Can I make this a couple of days in advance? My grandma used to make variations of this for every holiday dinner. The season determined what “flavor” (color) jello she used. Reply
Hey Jill, this salad will keep well for about 2 days before serving if kept in an airtight container! 🙂 Reply