Old fashioned pistachio salad is the fluffy, pale green dessert salad that has been on potluck and holiday tables for generations. It is also known as Watergate salad or pistachio fluff. Instant pistachio pudding mix is stirred, dry, into a can of crushed pineapple, then folded with whipped topping and miniature marshmallows. There is no cooking and nothing to chop. It takes 5 minutes and four ingredients, and it is sweet, creamy, light and a little fruity.
How to make old fashioned pistachio salad: In a medium bowl, mix a 20-ounce can of undrained crushed pineapple with a 3.4-ounce box of dry instant pistachio pudding mix. Do not make the pudding with milk first. Fold in an 8-ounce container of thawed whipped topping, then stir in 1 1/2 cups of miniature marshmallows. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
Why You’ll Love It
- Four ingredients. A box, a can, a tub and a bag.
- Five minutes. One bowl and one spoon.
- No cooking. Nothing goes near the stove.
- Make-ahead. It waits happily in the fridge.
- A potluck classic. Everyone knows it, and the bowl always comes home empty.
Ingredient Notes
Instant pistachio pudding mix. One 3.4-ounce box. Use the powder dry, straight from the box. Be sure it is instant, not the cook-and-serve kind.
Crushed pineapple. One 20-ounce can. Do not drain it. The juice is what sets the pudding.
Whipped topping. One 8-ounce container, thawed in the refrigerator.
Miniature marshmallows. One and a half cups.
Ingredients
- 1 box (3.4 ounces) instant pistachio pudding mix
- 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, not drained
- 1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
How to Make Old Fashioned Pistachio Salad
1. Mix the pineapple and pudding. In a medium bowl, mix the undrained crushed pineapple with the dry instant pistachio pudding mix. Do not prepare the pudding with milk first.
2. Fold in the topping. Fold in the thawed whipped topping until combined.
3. Add the marshmallows. Stir in the miniature marshmallows until they are spread all through the salad.
4. Serve or refrigerate. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Do You Drain the Pineapple or Make the Pudding First?
No, and no. These are the two mistakes that spoil this salad, and both come from following the directions on the packages when the recipe wants something else.
| Question | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Do I drain the crushed pineapple? | No | The juice is the only liquid in the recipe. It dissolves the pudding powder and thickens with it |
| Do I make the pudding with milk first? | No | Prepared pudding plus pineapple juice makes a thin, runny salad. The powder goes in dry |
| Can I use cook-and-serve pudding? | No | That kind has to be boiled to thicken. Only instant pudding sets cold |
| Should the whipped topping be frozen? | No | Thaw it first, so it folds in smoothly without lumps |
When you stir the dry powder into the pineapple, the mixture turns bright green and begins to thicken within a minute. That is the pudding setting in the juice. Once it looks like a loose, green jam, it is ready for the whipped topping.
Does it need to chill?
The recipe gives no set chilling time. It simply says to keep the salad in the refrigerator until you serve it. You can eat it right away, when it is soft and creamy. Given a little time in the fridge, it firms up and the marshmallows soften, which many people prefer.
Tips for Success
How do I fold in the whipped topping?
Use a spatula and turn the mixture over gently from the bottom of the bowl. Hard stirring knocks the air out, and the salad loses its fluff.
Can I add nuts?
Yes. Chopped pecans or pistachios are classic additions. Stir them in just before serving so they stay crunchy.
How do I dress it up?
Maraschino cherries on top are the traditional garnish.
Why is my salad runny?
Either the pudding was made with milk, or the whipped topping was folded in before the pudding and pineapple had a moment to thicken.
Why is it called Watergate salad?
No one has a proven answer. The name has been attached to this pudding and pineapple salad for decades, and the stories about where it came from do not agree.
Is It a Salad or a Dessert?
Both, depending on who you ask. It belongs to the family of sweet, creamy fluff salads that are set out with the side dishes at church suppers, reunions and holiday dinners, right next to the ham and the rolls. At home, a small bowl after supper makes an easy dessert. Either way, serve it cold, straight from the refrigerator, and give it a gentle stir first if it has been sitting for a while.
Serving and Storage
Keep the salad cold, at 40°F or below. On a buffet, set the bowl in a larger bowl of ice, or put out a small dish and refill it from the fridge. Do not leave it out for more than two hours, or more than one hour when the day is hotter than 90°F. Covered in the refrigerator, leftovers keep for three to four days.
What to Serve With It
This salad sits somewhere between a side dish and a dessert, so it fits anywhere on a potluck table. Put it out with another sweet one, like Snickers salad, and balance them with savory bowls: a layered pasta salad, a classic pasta salad or a deviled egg pasta salad. For something fresh and crisp, add the marinated cauliflower salad or the spinach salad with warm bacon dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main ingredients in Watergate salad?
Instant pistachio pudding mix, crushed pineapple with its juice, whipped topping and miniature marshmallows.
Do I drain the crushed pineapple?
No. Use the whole can, juice and all.
Do I prepare the instant pudding with milk first?
No. Stir the dry mix straight into the pineapple.
Does this salad need to chill before serving?
There is no required chilling time. Keep it in the refrigerator until you serve it.
Final Notes
I move the whipped topping from the freezer to the fridge the night before, so it is soft when I need it. If you make it, leave a comment to tell me how it turned out or ask a question.
Old Fashioned Pistachio Salad
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Ingredients
- 1 box instant pistachio pudding mix 3.4 ounces; use the mix dry
- 1 can crushed pineapple 20 ounces; do not drain
- 1 container whipped topping 8 ounces, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix the undrained crushed pineapple with the dry instant pistachio pudding mix. Do not prepare the pudding with milk first.
- Fold in the thawed whipped topping until combined.
- Stir in the miniature marshmallows until they are spread all through the salad.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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