Simple Pistachio Salad-Classic Watergate Salad

Five-minute, five-ingredient, easy Pistachio Salad Recipe is a time-honored potluck classic. Pistachio pudding, pineapple, CoolWhip, marshmallows, and nuts create creamy tropical mounds of sweet green fluff. Everyone will love this retro dessert salad!

If you’re looking for more light and refreshing dessert recipes, you’ll love no-bake Frozen Strawberry Dessert, easy Key Lime Sheet Cake, and classic Ambrosia, another retro dessert salad.

Why Pistachio Salad Is Still A Favorite For Almost Half A Century

Since being introduced in the ‘70s, this sweet, pistachio fluff recipe with its tropical pineapple pizzaz has been a staple at family reunions, potlucks, picnics, and backyard BBQs. It’s the perfect retro dessert to wow the family instead of the same ole same ole.

• Five simple ingredients that won’t break the bank.
• Each bite is cool, sweet, and creamy with fun, tasty textures.
• A quick throw-together dessert salad with only five prep minutes.
• Surprising, unique, and delicious flavor combination.
• Pistachio salad is convenient to make a day ahead.
• Easily double or triple this pistachio salad recipe for a large crowd.

What’s In A Classic Pistachio Salad

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

If you’re curious, the Kraft “original Watergate Salad recipe” includes canned pineapple juice, just as this recipe does.

• Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix – used as a dry ingredient; no need to prepare.
• Canned Pineapple – A large can of crushed pineapple; you will use the juice.
• Whipped Topping – A frozen topping like CoolWhip, TruWhip, or Great Valley brand, thawed. (or stabilized whipped cream)
• Cottage Cheese -(*optional) small curd.
• Mini Marshmallows
• Nuts – your preference: pistachios, walnuts, or pecans
• Garnish – maraschino cherries

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How To Make Pistachio Salad Aka Watergate Salad

You won’t have to wonder why this tasty pistachio pineapple delight has been a potluck staple for almost 5 decades. Crazy simple; All you need to create this retro fruit salad is a mixing bowl and a spatula.

When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Mix pineapple, juice, and pistachio pudding.
2. Fold in the remaining ingredients.
3. Cover the pistachio fluff and refrigerate.

After 4 hours, pour the fluff into a serving dish; garnish with nuts and maraschino cherries. ENJOY!

Watergate Salad/Pistachio Salad Recipe Notes And Tips

• The cottage cheese in this pistachio salad reduces the sweetness and allows more pistachio flavor to shine. (Sweet-sensitive palates and dieters will thank you.)
• If you enjoy the classic, extra sweetness of the original Watergate Salad, you leave out the cottage cheese. It’s totally optional.
• You can always keep your “secret ingredient” secret by blending the cottage cheese until smooth before adding it.  
• Remember, just like the original Watergate Salad recipe, you do not drain the pineapple in this light and yummy green fluff recipe.
• Want the pistachio fluff greener? Add a drop of green food color.
• If you prefer whipped cream over the whipped topping, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of confectioner’s sugar to 8 ounces of whipping cream to stabilize.

Pistachio Salad Serving Ideas

To serve pistachio salad, start by giving it a good stir to make sure the ingredients are evenly distributed. This dish is a great addition to any meal, whether as a dessert or as a side dish like it was served in the 70s. 

Spoon the salad into individual dessert bowls or onto plates alongside our Apricot Glazed Ham. You can also garnish it with whipped cream and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios for added flavor and presentation. Serve chilled and enjoy!

• Make your pistachio salad recipe into a creamy, dreamy dessert pie by serving it in a graham cracker crust!
• Create gorgeous individual parfaits with parfait or wine glasses and top them with whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. 
• Make green fluff frozen cookie sandwiches with your favorite sugar cookie, shortbread, Pecan Sandies, or graham crackers for a great warm-weather treat.

Pistachio Salad Variations

• It’s always been a mystery why pecans are preferred over pistachios for a pistachio salad! Try unsalted, toasted pistachios; I bet you’ll like them!
• Instead of cottage cheese, you can use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream to cut the sweetness. These two alternatives will give your green fluff a slight tanginess. 
• If you’re not a fan of frozen whipped topping, you can use Dream Whip or stabilized whipped cream.
• Get as creative as you like with your garnishes! Sprinkle pistachio salad with toasted nuts, coconut flakes, extra mini marshmallows,  or all of the above!
• Sub in fruit-flavored, multi-colored mini marshmallows for an increased visual impact.

Pistachio Salad, Aka Watergate Salad: Fact, Fiction, Or A Bunch Of Fluff?

Pistachio salad is a classic dessert salad with the ease of instant pistachio pudding that’s been a favorite addition for church socials, holiday sideboards, and potlucks for almost 50 years!

• Fact: Here’s the thing, General Foods launched Jell-O instant pistachio pudding in 1975 and created the Pistachio Pineapple Delight recipe to go with it.
• Fiction: There’s a rumor (unsubstantiated) that pistachio salad was tagged as the “Watergate Hotel Salad” in an article by a Chicago food columnist. To date, that article or the author has yet to be found. 
• Fluff: According to many sources, including npr.org, there’s no evidence pistachio salad was ever served at the Watergate Hotel. I also checked out the current Watergate Hotel’s menu, just for fun, and no such luck.
• Fluff x2: I read a Watergate Salad recipe that stated, “I got the recipe from the chef at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC where the recipe originated.” (Huh, that’s interesting…See Fact:)
• Fact x2: Kraft (bought General Foods) received so many requests for the “Watergate Salad” recipe they officially renamed it that in 1993.

At the end of the day, my taste buds don’t care what you call this luscious pistachio pudding salad! Pistachio fluff has held a time-honored place at potlucks, BBQs, and family gatherings coming up on half a century!