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Watergate Salad: A Brief Introduction to the Midwestern Classic

Modified on August 20, 2021 at 1:23 AM

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Img Source: Wikimedia

Ever wondered what could be the story behind the unusual name and flavor combo of the popular classic “Watergate Salad”? We’re about to reveal it here.

Watergate salad is a symbol of grandmother’s love and sweet childhood memories to many Midwestern people. After all, it’s one of those classic American dishes that you only get at home during warm festivals, such as Thanksgiving, Easter Sundays, or Baby Showers rather than restaurants or parties.

But while growing up, we all get curious to know how such a unique dish was invented and why it is even called Watergate salad, although it doesn’t taste like salad at all.

We know you’re here out of such curiosity. And we won’t disappoint you. We’ll answer all your questions about Watergate salad in this article. Take a glance!

What is Watergate Salad?

Watergate salad is a very popular dish in the Midwestern states of America, especially where potluck is very prevalent. If you’re from there, you can relate. Though it’s widely popular by the name Watergate salad, it is also called Pistachio-Pineapple Delight, Green Goop, or Green Goddess salad.

Watergate salad has an attractive vibrant light green color that comes from its key ingredient, pistachio. It isn’t similar to what we conventionally know as a salad. It doesn’t have the common components of a salad, such as lettuce, veggies, and oil.

Rather, it has a creamy texture that comes from the pistachio Jell-O and marshmallow. Moreover, it is generally served with the whipped cream topping, so it bears the elegant look of a dessert. 

But those who have ever had a Watergate salad know that it doesn’t completely taste like a dessert; it is something in between savory and dessert.

What is Watergate Salad Made of?

The classic and authentic Watergate Salad recipe contains pistachio Jell-O or pudding and canned pineapple as the key ingredients. 

These two ingredients are combined with crushed pecans and marshmallows to create this masterpiece, and then it’s further topped with cool whip or mini marshmallows, and maybe a cherry on top.

It is usually served cold, but that’s optional as well. There are several variations of this authentic recipe that commonly substitute canned pineapple with other canned fruits, such as mandarin, orange, or fruit cocktail.

It has a very simple yet rich blend of flavors somewhat similar to ambrosia salad except for the inclusion of pistachio as a key ingredient. You can easily prepare it as a healthy and budget-friendly dish for the next potluck.

Types of Watergate Salad

The most common and classic identity of Watergate salad is the flavor combo of pistachio Jell-O and canned pineapple with the cool whip topping or mini marshmallows. It often looks like this: 

Img Source: Wikimedia

Several other recipes replace these conventional ingredients with other ingredients for creating variety in flavor and look. Some of the most popular of such Watergate salad types are listed below.

  • Pink Watergate Salad: As you know, the color of classic Watergate salad is usually green due to the presence of pistachio pudding in ample amounts, but the pink Watergate salad breaks this tradition with a vibrant pink color that comes from replacing pistachio with strawberry Jell-O.
  • Hawaiian Watergate Salad: The Hawaiian Watergate salad has a completely different feel from the regular Watergate salad because it usually features banana and vanilla pudding mix instead of pistachio and is topped with mandarin.
  • Coconut Watergate Salad: People fond of tropical flavors love including coconut in the recipes. Coconut Watergate salad has all the same ingredients as the usual Watergate salad but also includes coconut to enhance the flavor combination.
  • Watergate Salad with Fruit Cocktail: In this Watergate salad variation, canned pineapple is replaced with canned fruit cocktail for more flavor and served with chunks of mandarin orange to balance it.
  • Watergate Salad with Cream Cheese: If you’re a cheese lover, this is the Watergate salad type you’ll love the best. This Watergate salad recipe adds cream cheese to the regular recipe to create a cheesy flavor within the usual flavor profile.

Why Is It Called Watergate Salad?

Now it’s time to answer the most intriguing question – why is Watergate salad named as such? Though the actual reason behind this unusual name is a mystery, there are several speculations. 

The most convincing story behind Watergate salad is shared by Kraft Heinz as they’re claimed to be the inventor of this masterpiece. According to them, in 1975, a recipe was published from Kraft, the then General Foods, which was named Pistachio-Pineapple Delight. 

It wasn’t anywhere referred to as Watergate salad by them. However, an anonymous food editor in Chicago renamed it Watergate salad and published it to promote interest. 

We know what you’re thinking…

Does It Have Anything to Do with the Watergate Scandal?

Maybe or maybe not. Only the unnamed food editor from Chicago will be able to answer the purpose behind his renaming the dish. But intriguingly, the period when this dish was invented is just after the Watergate Scandal took place.

So, there is a good chance that the name of this dish was changed as a mockery to the scandal to attract people’s interest in it. But these are just speculations.

Can Watergate Salad Be Made in Advance?

Since Watergate salad is served chilled, it can definitely be made one or two days in advance. You just need to make sure you refrigerate it properly and timely because it won’t be a good idea to keep it outside at room temperature without refrigerating. If you do so, it won’t last more than a few hours.

Moreover, you can refrigerate it for two days max. The flavors will start to change and fade after two days, even after refrigerating.

Are You Supposed to Have Watergate Salad as Dessert?

Even though Watergate salad is called a dessert salad, it won’t really satisfy you as a dessert since it lacks sweet content. There is no added sugar. The sweetness of the Watergate salad only comes from the canned fruit.

It’s more likely used as a side dish in family dinners or potluck festivals. It can be a great addition to your Easter Sunday dinner menu as well. But it’s better to have it as a side dish like all other salads. 

Hopefully, the information satisfied your curiosity about this intriguing dish. 

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Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on August 19, 2021 at 1:10 PM
Filed Under: Recipes
Tagged With: dessert, desserts, jello, pistachio, pudding, watergate salad

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

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Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

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You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
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