Watergate Salad Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This vintage pistachio salad is a classic sweet treat -- with just 5 minutes of prep!

Course Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Green Fluff, Pistachio salad, watergate salad recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 0

Chilling Time 1

Total Time 1 5

Servings people

Calories 218.3kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, NOT drained
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant pistachio pudding (or use a 1-ounce box of sugar-free instant pudding)
1 cup miniature marshmallows
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
Maraschino cherries, for topping

In a large bowl, stir together pineapple (and its juice), dry pudding mix, marshmallows, pecans and coconut. Gently fold in the whipped topping.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (and up to 24 hours).
Give everything a gentle stir just before serving. Garnish with maraschino cherries.

How to Make Watergate Salad Fluffy: Do not thaw the Cool Whip on the countertop. Instead, allow at least 4-5 hours (or overnight) for the Cool Whip to thaw in the refrigerator. This will maintain its fluffy texture. Next, make sure that you gently fold the Cool Whip into the salad -- do not stir. This will maintain the air in the whipped topping.
Prepare the Salad in Advance: The salad needs at least 1 hour to chill in the refrigerator and "set up" before serving, and can easily be made a day ahead. The salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. After about 24 hours, however, the texture of the salad is less fluffy.
Some versions of Watergate Salad incorporate the maraschino cherries into the salad (rather than just using them as a garnish). If you'd like to do this, I recommend rinsing the cherries and patting them dry first. Otherwise, they will turn your salad pink.
Any nuts will work in this salad, so feel free to swap out the pecans and use walnuts, almonds, peanuts, or pistachios instead.
If you're looking for a similar green fruit salad, you can try this version with lime Jell-O and cottage cheese.
Both regular and sugar-free pistachio pudding mix will work in this dish. Just make sure that you buy the smaller (4-serving) box.
To serve a larger group, double all of the ingredients.