Waldorf salad facts for kids
A modern Waldorf salad with green grapes and whole walnuts, served in a glass bowl (2008)
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| Course | Appetizer |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New York |
| Created by | Oscar Tschirky |
| Serving temperature | Chilled |
| Main ingredients | Apples, celery, mayonnaise, walnuts, grapes |
| Variations | Poultry, dried fruit (raisins, dates), yogurt dressing, zest of citrus, cauliflower |
A Waldorf salad is a tasty mix of fruits and nuts. It usually has fresh apples, celery, walnuts, and grapes. These ingredients are often mixed with a creamy dressing, like mayonnaise. People traditionally serve this salad on a bed of lettuce. It makes a great appetizer or a light meal. Sometimes, the apples, celery, and grapes are all green. This makes the salad look very nice and colorful!
The Story of Waldorf Salad
The Waldorf salad is named after a famous hotel in New York City. This hotel is called the Waldorf-Astoria. The salad was first made there for a special party. This party was a charity event to help St. Mary's Hospital for Children. It happened on March 14, 1896.
The hotel's head waiter, Oscar Tschirky, was very creative. He is known for making or inspiring many of the hotel's famous dishes. Many people believe he created the Waldorf salad recipe. In 1896, the salad recipe appeared in a book called The Cook Book by "Oscar of the Waldorf."
The very first recipe for Waldorf salad was quite simple. It only had apples, celery, and mayonnaise. It did not include any nuts. However, by 1928, when the recipe appeared in The Rector Cook Book, walnuts had been added to the salad.
Different Ways to Make It
Today, people often add other ingredients to Waldorf salad. You might find chicken or turkey in it. Sometimes, dried fruit like dates or raisins are also added.
Modern versions of the salad might use a different dressing. Instead of just mayonnaise, it could be a seasoned mayonnaise. Some recipes even use a yogurt dressing instead. You might also find the zest (the grated peel) of oranges or lemons in the salad. Other fun variations include using a peanut butter and yogurt base. One unique version even replaces the celery with cauliflower!
Images for kids
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