Pistachio Pudding Salad (Original Watergate Salad)

This dreamy fluff salad is a sweet and crunchy summer side perfect for any potluck or picnic. Made in under 30 minutes and with only 6 ingredients Pistachio Pudding Salad, also commonly known as Watergate salad, is a simple side dish.

The beginnings of this salad are just as murky as its name, which is why many refer to it as something different. Whether you call it Watergate salad, like we do in the south, or pistachio pudding, or green fluff, it’s delicious.

With a light and fluffy taste and fruit and nuts mixed in it’s similar to ambrosia, but also has some variations on how you make it (I’ve given you many of the variations below).

Why this Recipe Works

Pistachio pudding is a simple mixture made with crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, pecans, and mini marshmallows. All held together in a light and fluffy Cool Whip base that comes together in under 30 minutes.

This cold side salad makes a perfect summertime side dish when you don’t want to cook and meals require something cool. There’s no cooking involved and really you could whip it up minutes before you plan on serving it.

There are many ways to make this salad too, some of which have ingredients like cottage cheese or lime jello, but this is the original watergate salad recipe. This recipe was once even printed on the side of the jello box.

While this is a great side salad for summer it’s also great for other holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and even Thanksgiving.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Coconut Flakes: for this recipe I like to use sweetened shredded coconut flakes, but unsweetened are delicious too. Not all watergate salad recipes have coconut so if you’re not a fan you can also leave this out.
• Instant Pistchio Pudding: there’s no cooking involved in this recipe so you’ll need to get instant pudding instead of the cook & serve kind.
• Pecans: the best nuts for this recipe are pecans because they’re slightly softer than other nuts, but still have a crunch.
• Cherries: the cherries are for topping off the salad and are also optional. They make a nice presentation though.

Ingredient Swaps

• Pistachio Pudding: there are many ways to make fluff salads and one way to change this recipe is by using instant lime jello pudding instead.
• Cool Whip: if you would prefer to use homemade whipped cream you can use it instead of Cool Whip. You’ll need about the same amount, which comes out to 3 cups.

Recipe Variations

• Pistachio Pudding Pie: spread this salad into a graham cracker crust and top with more whipped cream or Cool Whip for a delicious, and easy summer pie.
• Hawaiian Watergate Salad: add bananas and do half pistachio pudding mix and half vanilla or banana pudding mix. You’ll definitely want to add the shredded coconut to this version as well as cherries.
• Strawberry Watergate Salad: instead of using pistachio pudding, use instant vanilla pudding and add fresh strawberries to the mixture.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Combine the crushed pineapple and the instant pistachio pudding in a large bowl.
• Add the shredded coconut, pecans, and mini marshmallows stir to fully incorporate into the mixture.

• Use a rubber spatula to fold the cool whip into the mixture until fully incorporated.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let chill in the fridge for 1 hour before you plan on serving it.

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

• Do NOT drain the crushed pineapple juice. The juice is a key part of this mixture.
• When adding the Cool Whip use a rubber spatula to fold it in. This ensure you’ll end up with the most fluffy salad possible.
• If bringing this to a picnic try and keep it out of direct sunlight if possible. The heat and sun will cause the salad to become runny.

Helpful Equipment

• Rubber Spatula: a good rubbler spatula is key for this recipe so you can fold the whipped cream in.
• Glass Storage Container: I’ve stopped using plastic storage containers and try to stay away from using plastic wrap directly on my food, which is why I love these containers. When you’re done preparing the salad scoop it into one of these to let it chill in the fridge.

Pistachio Pudding Salad FAQ’s:

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If you made this recipe I want to hear all about it! Share a photo and tag me on Instagram using @AimeeMarsLiving and #AimeeMars so I can see your beautiful work. Enjoy!