Waldorf salad
 A modern Waldorf salad with green grapes and whole walnuts, served in a glass bowl (2008) | |
| 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 fruit and nut salad generally made of fresh apples, celery, walnuts, and grapes, dressed in mayonnaise, and traditionally served on a bed of lettuce as an appetizer or a light meal.[1][2] The apples, celery, and grapes can all be green, which harmonizes the color palette of the dish.
History
Waldorf salad is named for the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, where it was first created for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary's Hospital for Children on March 14, 1896.[3][4][5] The Waldorf-Astoria's maître d'hôtel, Oscar Tschirky, developed or inspired many of the hotel's signature dishes and is widely credited with creating the salad recipe. In 1896, the salad appeared in The Cook Book by "Oscar of the Waldorf".[6]
The original recipe was just apples, celery, and mayonnaise.[7] It did not contain nuts, but they had been added by the time the recipe appeared in The Rector Cook Book in 1928.[8]
Modern versions
Other ingredients such as chicken, turkey, and dried fruit (e.g. dates or raisins) are sometimes added.[9] Updated versions of the salad sometimes change the dressing to a seasoned mayonnaise (see also: dressings based on mayonnaise) or a yogurt dressing. Modern Waldorf salad may also include the zest of oranges and/or lemons. Variations include a peanut butter and yogurt base.
A variation known as an "emerald salad" replaces the celery with cauliflower.
In popular culture
The dish is featured prominently in an eponymous episode of the sitcom Fawlty Towers on the BBC.[10] It is also mentioned at the end of the 1987 film House of Games; and within Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, season 1, episode 11, where it is referred to as “trailer trash food”. In season 2, Episode 10 of Twin Peaks, a Waldorf salad is served at a large gathering.
It is also featured in an episode of The Kids Are Alright, in which the middle class Cleary family discovers a less fancy version of the dish, which is used later as a punishment for one of the kids when he tries to sneak a midnight snack.
See also
References
- ^ Judith Weinraub (15 November 2016). Salad: A Global History. Reaktion Books. pp. 89–. ISBN 978-1-78023-705-3.
- ^ "Waldorf Salad". The English Kitchen. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ Nan Lyons (1 March 1990). New York City 1990. Bantam. ISBN 978-0-553-34845-3.
- ^ Janet Clarkson (24 December 2013). Food History Almanac: Over 1,300 Years of World Culinary History, Culture, and Social Influence. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 245–. ISBN 978-1-4422-2715-6.
- ^ "The History of Waldorf Salad". Kitchen Project. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
- ^ Andrew F. Smith (26 November 2013). New York City: A Food Biography. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 155–. ISBN 978-1-4422-2713-2.
- ^ "The History of Waldorf Salad". www.kitchenproject.com. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
- ^ Andrew F. Smith (28 October 2013). Food and Drink in American History: A "Full Course" Encyclopedia [3 Volumes]: A "Full Course" Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 774–. ISBN 978-1-61069-233-5.
- ^ Andrew F. Smith (17 November 2015). Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover's Companion to New York City. Oxford University Press. pp. 628–. ISBN 978-0-19-939702-0.
- ^ Albert Jack (2 September 2010). What Caesar Did For My Salad: The Secret Meanings of our Favourite Dishes. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 168–. ISBN 978-0-14-192992-7.
