Watergate Salad

My sister Mary has been making this “salad” for at least 25 years. We always called it “green fluff” or at least I did! I recently thought about “green fluff” or Watergate Salad and realized I haven’t eaten or made this salad in many years. So, I decided to throw caution to the wind and make it again. I was also very curious to see if “green fluff” was still as good as I had remembered. It definitely was.

Easy Peasy

The directions for this salad are so easy that I’m sure a five year old could make it. One package of pistachio flavored (dry) pudding and pie mix is combined with a tub of cool-whip. Add some mini marshmallows, a large can of drained crushed pineapple and you’re all set. I like to add some chopped pecans, preferably toasted, because I like the crunch and nuttiness they add.

watergate salad

Some History

Kraft Foods debuted its bright green instant pistachio pudding mix in the 1970s and promoted a recipe using the pudding mix called Pistachio Pineapple Delight. It’s believed that a crafty editor at a Chicago newspaper reprinted the recipe but renamed it “Watergate Salad,” and the new name stuck. (Info from Serious Eats)


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Watergate Salad

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
An oldie but goodie!
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Ingredients

  • 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
  • 1 3.4 oz packages pistachio flavored instant pudding mix
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 1 1/2 cups whipped topping, thawed

Instructions
 

  • Combine first 4 ingredients.
  • Fold in cool whip.
  • Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
Course: Dessert, Salad
Cuisine: All-American
Author: Lynn / Turnips 2 Tangerines
Keyword: cool-whip, pineapple, pistachio, pudding
is the perfect way to serve ham this Easter. Baste with a maple glaze while baking or while on the rotisserie and then served with a delicious raisin sauce. Left-overs made delicious sandwiches or chopped up and added to quiche or omelettes. For this recipe we used crushed pineapple from Dole, Pistachio Flavored Instant Pudding and Cool Whip Whipped Topping. A delicious and sweet fluffy salad.