It’s hard to find a more classic side dish than the Waldorf Salad. Its origin can be traced back to the late 1800s when it was first served at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. The original recipe included only apples, celery, and mayonnaise (ingredients you can find all year long), but over time, other elements were added and today you can find many different variations of the recipe. The version we have for you today sticks pretty close to the classic and once you taste it you’ll understand why it has stood the test of time!

Simplicity is definitely a selling point of this salad. The creamy dressing has just four main components other than salt and pepper. The base is a mixture of mayo and sour cream, then lemon juice and a bit of sugar are whisked in. Sour cream helps mellow out the strong mayo flavor and makes the overall texture even creamier. Fresh lemon juice is best here, but a squirt of the bottled stuff will do the trick in a pinch. The dressing is then poured over the apples, grapes, celery, and romaine lettuce. Top it all off with some toasted walnuts and your dish is ready to be served!

The salad can be made ahead of time which makes it a great option for entertaining. I find it tastes even better once it’s sat for a few hours, letting all those flavors meld together. Add in dried cranberries for a tart pop of sweetness or even add shredded chicken to make it a meal. No matter the variation, this timeless salad will always be a crowd-pleaser. We hope you love it just as much as all the generations before!