Waldorf salad is a traditional fruit and nut salad that’s tossed in a light, creamy dressing. It typically calls for diced apples, but I had just been gifted a big bag of pears that were picked from a co-worker's tree, so I used those instead. I also had a bundle of beautiful, purple stemmed kale to use in place of the standard romaine or iceberg lettuce. These small swaps using in-season produced helped to transition this salad into the perfect fall appetizer. It only takes a few minutes to prepare and you can make it all in one bowl. The ingredients are almost all completely raw, to help your body stay healthy through the seasonal changes.
The dressing for this salad is usually made with mayo, but using plain cashew yogurt is a healthier option that will give you the same results. You can still use vegan mayo if that is what you have on hand or prefer. This salad is flexible and doesn’t have to be made exactly according to recipe. Feel free to use pecans or almonds instead of walnuts, or add in cranberries or raisins if you don’t have grapes. This can be eaten as is for a light lunch, or it can be stuffed inside of a pita pocket to make a sandwich.
The dressing for this salad is usually made with mayo, but using plain cashew yogurt is a healthier option that will give you the same results. You can still use vegan mayo if that is what you have on hand or prefer. This salad is flexible and doesn’t have to be made exactly according to recipe. Feel free to use pecans or almonds instead of walnuts, or add in cranberries or raisins if you don’t have grapes. This can be eaten as is for a light lunch, or it can be stuffed inside of a pita pocket to make a sandwich.
![waldorf salad in a white bowl against a black and brown background](https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/vegan_waldorf_salad1-700x400.jpeg)
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- 2 1/2 tbsp plain vegan yogurt
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup pear, cubed
- 1 cup grapes, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 2 cups kale, shredded
- salt & pepper to taste
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graphic for recipe card](https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/wp-content/themes/yanpix/images/webp/tomato.webp)
Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, add the yogurt, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together until combined.
2. Add in the fruit, nuts, and kale, and toss well to coat.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.
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Photo: Lauren Sacerdote
![waldorf salad in a white bowl against a black and brown background](https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/vegan_waldorf_salad1.jpeg)
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