Watergate Salad | Pistachio Salad Recipe | Food Network Kitchen | Food Network

Prev Recipe Next Recipe

Watergate Salad

Recipe courtesy of Shaquay Peacock for Food Network Kitchen

Watch how to make this recipe.

Watergate Salad

Getting reviews...

Level: Easy

Total: 4 hr 15 min (includes chilling time)
Active: 15 min

Yield: 8 servings

The combination of fresh whipped cream with pineapple and marshmallows makes this pistachio-flavored classic an enduring showstopper. Our version adds a bit of cream cheese to the whipped cream, providing a welcome tang to the sweet notes. Although the origin of the name might be cloudy (some say it was a newspaper that renamed Kraft's pistachio pineapple delight with the name of the famous Washington, D.C. hotel), no one will dispute its appeal at the dessert table.

Level: Easy

Total: 4 hr 15 min (includes chilling time)
Active: 15 min

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Deselect All

2 cups heavy cream, chilled

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

One 20-ounce can crushed pineapple in juice

One 3.4-ounce box instant pistachio pudding mix, such as Jell-O

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup mini marshmallows

8 maraschino cherries, drained

Directions

Slowly whisk the heavy cream into the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until very smooth, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until medium-stiff peaks form.
Combine the pineapple (with juice), pistachio pudding mix and 3/4 cup of the walnuts in a separate bowl until the pudding mix is dissolved.
Fold in the marshmallows and 2 cups of the whipped cream-cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours.
To serve, spoon into small bowls and top with the remaining whipped cream-cream cheese mixture, remaining 1/4 cup walnuts and the maraschino cherries.