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Pistachio Salad is a retro dessert salad recipe that also makes a great side dish! This fluff salad has pineapple, pistachios, marshmallows, and cherries!
Pistachio Salad
Some of you may remember this dish from your childhood. It seems like every family had their own way of making it – and they were all delicious!
I remember my mom and grandma making this easy salad many times growing up. It is almost dessert-like but makes a great side dish, too. It’s a nice change from the typical coleslaw, potato, or macaroni salad … and perfect for warm weather! It’s also a holiday favorite!
Let’s see how to make it ….
Pistachio Salad Recipe
** Ingredients are at a glance. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full amounts and printable recipe. **
- pistachio instant pudding
- crushed pineapple
- chopped nuts
- miniature marshmallows
- frozen whipped topping
- maraschino cherries, optional
How to make dessert salad recipes
Time needed: 2 hours and 20 minutes.
- In a large bowl combine the dry pudding mix with pineapple, nuts, and marshmallows.
- Add the whipped topping and mix well.
- If using, mix in the cherries.
- Chill until serving, at least 2 hours.
Pistachio Salad: FAQs
Be sure to read this section if you run into any problems or have questions about the recipes before leaving a comment.
Yes! It can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
You can freeze it! Make sure it’s wrapped well in plastic wrap before freezing. It can be stored for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
I wouldn’t call it healthy … but everything in moderation can be part of a healthy diet.
My personal opinion – pistachios, pecans, or walnuts. Use whatever kind of nuts your family likes.
For my family, we sometimes serve this as a fruit salad. Anywhere it makes sense to serve a fruit salad, it makes sense to serve this dish, in my opinion. It’s especially nice on days when it’s too hot to cook much – so we tend to serve it more when we have cookouts with a burger or hot dogs. It’s also a staple at every holiday!
My family always added them , so I do too. If you prefer, you can totally leave them out!
How did you like this recipe?
Doesn’t this recipe take you back to the good old days?! If you’re old enough to remember this dish, then you know how much of a blast from the past this is – everyone had a recipe for this salad!
I would love to know what your thoughts are … did you run into any problems or did you change it up? Maybe you loved it and it brought back a flood of memories. Let me know about your experience in the comments!
More dessert salad recipes
If you would like to try a few more fluff recipes, here are a few more you may enjoy:
- Cherry Chiffon Salad – serve it as a side dish or dessert. Great for potlucks and barbecues.
- Caramel Apple Snickers Salad – a delicious sweet treat perfect for fall! Chopped apples, caramel, and candy bars combine with a creamy fluff mixture.
- Orange Fluff Salad – a retro side dish filled with lots of classic flavors!
- Pina Colada Fluff – everything you love about the classic drink, made into an awesome dessert!
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Pistachio Salad
Pistachio salad is a retro dessert salad recipe that also makes a great side dish! This fluff salad has pineapple, pistachios, marshmallows, and cherries!
Ingredients
- 1 box (3.4 oz.) pistachio instant pudding
- 1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts
- 1 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 container (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the dry pudding mix with pineapple, nuts, and marshmallows.
- Add the whipped topping and mix well.
- If using, mix in the cherries.
- Chill until serving, at least 2 hours.
Notes
In my opinion, the best nuts to use for this are pistachios, pecans, or walnuts.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 13gProtein: 3g
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary greatly between brands. Always be sure to read labels.
Originally published on July 8, 2012. Updated on September 9, 2020.
This is yummy. Here in the South we call it Watergate Salad. It's one of my favorite dishes to make for family reunions and goes like hotcakes! Thanks for sharing. The only things I don't add are the cherries,marshmallows and chopped nuts.
I have heard it called that before! I think it's a nice change from the typical coleslaw, potato or macaroni salad. 🙂
Super post. I got to this via Mealtime Monday on Couponing and Cooking. I have linked in some bacon and scrambled egg rolls. Enjoy.
Ah yes! Watergate salad, but like Debra Ann noted without the marshmallows or cherries. My mom used to make this and Waldorf salads in the summer!
Thanks for the memory and reminding me I need to make this for my family!
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
I love pistachio salad! It brings so many childhood memories! I need to pin this!
This salad has many memories for me, too. I think we had this at every holiday meal!
I would love it, if you would share this, & any other recipes you may have, on my recipe link up. http://goodrecipesonline.com/organized-linkup-for-all-your-recipes-goodrecipesonline-com/.
Saw this on Tip Junkie. We make something similar, but without the cherries. We too call ours Watergate Salad, or simply "green stuff." Thanks for the reminder … I'll have to make some soon!
Thank you for stopping by!
I love these salads!
Me too, Sarah! It's such a nostalgic salad for me!
This IS a dessert, and a very unique and delicious one.
Thank you, Winnie!
i remember growing up with this…yum!!!
Loved this salad as a kid!
My Mama and Grandma made this also! I had forgotten about..I'm doing that way to much lately. ~smile~ Thanks for the recipe and memories. <3 Thank you for sharing on Thursday's Treasures Week 42. I hope to see you again each week. <3 and hugs! http://www.recipesformyboys.com/2012/07/thursdays-treasures-week-42.html
Hi, Debi 🙂 This salad seems to be a part of many childhoods and family traditions!
This is so pretty. I used to make a salad with lime yellow, Cook Whip, cukes and other ingredients that looked like this. I have to says that yours sounds better with the pistachio flavor.
Thank you, Chaya!
Yum! perfect salad for summer. Cool and creamy for those blazing hot days. Thanks for sharing at Creative Thursday 🙂 Have a great weekend.
Thank you, Michelle 🙂
This is similar to a 5 cup salad that I used to make but not with pistachio. What a cool twist to use the pistachio pudding! Sounds wonderful. Thank you for sharing at Freedom Fridays:)
Thank you, Evelyn 🙂
I used to love when my Grandma made this when I was little. We called it "green goop"…I am going to have to make this!!!
Hope it is close to your grandma's!
Pistachio Pudding in the salad sounds like fun. Would love to try it out on one fine summer day 🙂
Come over and link your recipe to Piquant Potluck @ QuickAsianRecipes.com
Thank you!
My sister makes a very similar recipe but calls it WhiteHouse Salad. I have no clue why, but it is delicious! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday! Please come back next week!
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Hi Jamie,
My husband just love anything pistachio, I will have to make this for him, it looks awesome! Hope you have a fantastic week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you for stopping by, Miz Helen. I hope your husband likes it as much as we do!
This sounds so COOL and yummy. Thanks for reminding me of an old family favorite! (Stopping by from the IMPROMPTU, COOL Linky Party @ Hating Martha.)
Thank you for stopping by! Seems a lot of people have fond memories of this salad 🙂
I haven't had this salad in a very long time. I remember that is was quite yummy. I think the one I had before had cherries in it though!!
Definitely a classic salad! Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
The subject of this week's Food on Friday is Salad. It would be great if you linked this in. This is the link .
thanks for linking in. Have a super week.
You too, Carole! Thanks for the party 🙂
This salad is a Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition at my table for my family! I too call it Watergate salad.
My sister makes a very similar salad and it is so light and refreshing! Thank you for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday! Please join us again this week for our red, white and blue party!
My mother in law made this for just about every family dinner. It will please hubs & my kids to re awaken that memory. 🙂 for what it's worth
I would like to thank you for sharing this recipe. Pistachios are my favorite nut and I use them for this salad – chopped. Thank you also for your wonderful blog and sharing so many family-friendly recipes.