Just another variation on a timeless and glamorous salad. The Kitchen Project does a great review of the Waldorf and its many incarnations, so no sense me even trying. I made up this version for Thanksgiving adding pomegranates for a more holiday feel. There are really limitless possibilities with this salad and should have more to do with what is fresh in the fridge and fruit basket than anything. I will make my dressing with more tang next time, using cider or white wine vinegar, lemon juice or champagne in addition to Dijon. I recommend mayo from scratch or buying a high quality version (mine was a French store bought brand, nary a word of English on the label….) Ingredients are given in ranges so you can feel free to have more of something you love or have a lot of and less of stuff you don’t. Nuts are not required (I don’t think they ever are unless it is a recipe like peanut brittle, would be hard to do that one sans nuts…..) and were not a part of the ORIGINAL version.

Holiday Waldorf Salad

• 1 to 2 apples, cored and chopped into ½ inch chunks
• 2 to 3 stalks celery, chopped (½ to ¼ inch)
• ½ to 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (you could candy them in some butter, brown sugar and cinnamon beforehand)
• Grapes (halved), but I used whole blackberries
• Romaine, enough for about 3 cups (1 and ½ small heads)
• Pomegranate, seeds from half (or use the whole thing!)
• ½ cup mayonnaise (if you like stuff really saucey make more dressing; can also use yogurt)
• 1 T Dijon
• 1 T lemon juice or champagne (or a few tsp of vinegar)
• Salt and pepper

Prep all the fresh ingredients and toss together. Reserve a few blackberries and some pomegranate to sprinkle on top when serving. Mix together the mayo, mustard, lemon juice to make dressing. Taste it and adjust as you think it might need (more/less salt, tart, more mustard-y etc). Combine fresh with dressing, a twist of pepper and you are ready to dine in style!  Add chicken or shrimp and you would have a entree worthy dish. This would be a great way to use up extra roast chicken or turkey too…

Some other interesting variations

• http://superfoodista.com/2013/11/03/kale-waldorf-salad-vegan/
• http://lordoftheplate.wordpress.com/2013/11/12/chickpea-waldorf-salad/
• http://www.fromthelittleyellowkitchen.com/2013/08/07/waldorf-salad-with-citrus-chia-dressing-vegan/ (cute appetizer idea!)
• http://www.tasteloveandnourish.com/2012/10/09/curried-chicken-waldorf-salad/  (what a way to use up left over chicken or turkey!)