Modern Waldorf Salad

Posted on July 20, 2025

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Introducing our Family’s Festive Waldorf Salad! A classic holiday favorite with a modern twist that’s easy to make and sure to delight.

For the salad, we’ve swapped the traditional base for crisp romaine lettuce and added a delightful crunch with walnut pumpkin seed brittle. The dressing is a lighter, yogurt-based blend, complemented by the tangy burst of pomegranate and dried cranberries.

We’ve taken the classic Waldorf ingredients and given them a healthy, vegan update—perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday gathering! Your family will love this contemporary twist on a timeless dish.

Here’s a simple and enjoyable recipe to add to your menu this year.

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Modern Waldorf Salad

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  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Salad

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large head of romaine lettuce (chopped)
  • 1 cup seedless red grapes (halved)
  • 1 cup sliced celery
  • 1 large honeycrisp or granny smith apple (diced)
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ¾ cup pomegranate arils
  • Walnut pumpkin seed brittle (see recipe below)

**Walnut Pumpkin Seed Brittle:**

  • 1 cup raw (unsalted walnut pieces)
  • ½ cup pumpkin seeds
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper

**Dressing:**

  • â…“ cup olive oil
  • â…“ cup plain yogurt (or vegan yogurt)
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 275ËšF.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine walnuts and pumpkin seeds. In a separate bowl, mix maple syrup, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Pour over nuts and toss well. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake on the lowest oven rack for about 35 minutes, rotating halfway. Once cooled, break into bite-sized pieces.
  3. While the brittle cools, whisk together dressing ingredients and prepare salad ingredients.
  4. Toss together all salad ingredients. Add dressing just before serving and toss well to coat. Top with brittle.

Notes

*We recommend using a sweet, tart apple like honeycrisp or granny smith.*

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