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Here’s a recipe I grew up with as a girl and still enjoy today! Grandma’s Pistachio Salad is especially nice for family gatherings or church dinners. This salad is also kid-friendly. Not only to make with little hands, but also to eat. Kids love to dip their spoons into this salad. In fact, it’s one of our grandchildren’s favorite dishes.
My mom always called this Watergate Salad, and according to online searches, the recipe may have originated from Kraft as Pistachio Pineapple Delight. Apparently, a food editor in Chicago gave it the Watergate name to help gain interest in the salad when Kraft came out with the instant Pistachio pudding in 1976, just a year after the Watergate scandal.
Wherever it originated and no matter why, it’s a very easy and yummy salad to make. Sweet, fluffy, and a pretty light, mint green color. The addition of chopped pistachios and/or maraschino cherries on top make the salad extra pretty on a holiday table. Plus, this recipe is perfect for kids to help make. Kids love Fluffy Salads!
Ingredients for Grandma’s Pistachio Salad
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Instructions for Making This Salad
Gather the ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
Assemble the Salad
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the instant pistachio pudding and crushed pineapple. Do not drain the pineapple.
Add whipped topping and fold in until all is combined. Next, stir in the miniature marshmallows, 2-3 cups, or as many as you desire.
Chill Salad and Serve
Place in a pretty serving bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Before serving, top with optional garnishes of chopped pistachio nuts and/or 3-5 maraschino cherries in the middle of the salad.
This salad will serve 6-8 people. If you need more, simply double or triple the recipe.
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Grandma’s Pistachio Salad
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Ingredients
- 3.4 oz instant pistachio pudding
- 11 oz crushed pineapple (do not drain)
- 8 oz whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
- 2 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
- chopped pistachios (optional garnish)
- maraschino cherries (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients so you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together pistachio pudding and crushed pineapple.
- Add whipped topping and stir until all is combined.
- Add miniature marshmallows.
Chill and Serve
- Place in a pretty serving bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, top with optional chopped pistachios and/or maraschino cherries. Serves 6-8.
Nutrition
So easy, and a favorite from my childhood!!
Oh yes, everybody should make this at least once! I think I first tasted it at a church pot luck when my kids were babies in the 60’s and it soon became a requested salad on our family get togethers. And we knew it as Watergate salad . Never knew the history of it.
Hi Sharon! Thank you for the review of this recipe. Yes, Watergate is what my mom still calls it. When I refer to it as pistachio salad, no one knows what I’m talking about! LOL