Healthy Waldorf Salad without Mayo (Greek Yogurt Dressing)

Name: Healthy Waldorf Salad without Mayo
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 tbsp natural yogurt (dairy or non dairy); 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; salt and pepper to taste; 2 apple (cored and cut into 1 cm cubes); 4 sticks celery (cut into 1 cm pieces); 2 tbsp sultanas; 2 tbsp walnuts (quartered)

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This healthy Waldorf salad without mayo is crisp, creamy and lighter and fresher than the classic version. Made with apples, celery and walnuts in a tangy Greek yogurt dressing, this delicious, easy no-mayo Waldorf salad is ideal for meal prep. Serve as a quick, healthy side dish or light lunch.

Healthy Waldorf salad with celery, apples, walnuts and sultanas.

At a glance

Recipe Summary: Healthy Waldorf Salad without Mayo
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 - no cooking required
Servings: 4 generous servings
Key ingredients: Apples, celery, yogurt, olive oil
Nutritional highlights: Healthy fibre and healthy fats from walnuts and olive oil
Allergy info: Gluten-free, easily adapted to be dairy-free and vegan
Convenience: Ideal for meal prep, quick and easy to make from simple ingredients

Waldorf salad dates back to 1893 when it was first served at the Waldorf hotel for its debut event, a charity ball held for a children's hospital.

The original salad was a mix of celery and apples, tossed in a rich mayonnaise. This healthy Waldorf salad recipe is mayo-free. It has a creamy but healthy yogurt and olive oil dressing that complements the other textures and flavours, and is much lower in fat.

What's healthy about mayo-free Waldorf salad?

The creamy, healthy yogurt dressing with olive oil and natural yogurt provides healthy fats and probiotics. This Waldorf dressing without mayonnaise helps cut down on some of the not-so-good fats and other additives
Crunchy celery stalks are a source of fibre and antioxidants. (You can read more about the health benefits of celery here)
There's solid evidence behind the old saying 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away'. Apples are a good source of fibre, vitamin C and beneficial plant compounds. Apples also contain pectin which is a prebiotic which feeds the good bacteria in your gut
Walnuts are a nutritional powerhouse. They contain healthy omega 3 oils, fibre, vitamins and minerals. They also add protein to your healthy waldorf salad, to keep you fuller for longer
This easy Waldorf salad is perfect for meal prep. And I've found that if I have a fridge full of healthy, delicious salads, I'll eat more veggies!

These healthy mayo-free Waldorf salad and mayo-free coleslaw recipes are my go-to meal prep salads. They've got simple ingredients, which are available all year round, and they are quick to make. Both are ideal as summer salads, and in Autumn/winter.

Ingredients

Celery, apples, sultanas, walnuts, olive oil, yogurt.

Celery. You can either buy a head of celery, or trimmed celery sticks. Leftovers store well in the fridge - or you can use it up in this apple and celery soup recipe.

Apples. Use whichever eating or dessert apples you enjoy. If you've got red-skinned apples they'll look especially attractive in this apple and celery salad.

Yogurt. You'll need plain, unflavoured yogurt for this healthy Waldorf salad dressing. If you use Greek yogurt, it will add extra protein. Low-fat or full-fat are both fine.

I like to use Icelandic yogurt as it's thick and creamy with a mild taste. I find it makes a very convincing mayonnaise alternative.

You can also make a vegan, dairy-free Waldorf dressing with dairy-free yogurt.

Olive oil, or another healthy oil. If you want to make a low-fat, low-calorie Waldorf salad, omit the olive oil and use a thick, fat-free yogurt for the dressing. Omitting the olive oil will reduce the calorie count by 60 calories.

Sultanas or raisins. These add a nice sweetness to the salad.

Walnuts add crunch and extra protein.

Salt and pepper, to taste.

How to make healthy Waldorf salad

The Greek yogurt dressing for this Waldorf salad takes just seconds - simply gently stir together the yogurt and olive oil with some seasoning.

Chop the apples and celery, and mix into the dressing with the sultanas and walnuts. Leave the peel on the apples - it's quicker, looks pretty, and retains more of the nutrients.

Ensure the chopped apple is coated in the dressing as soon as it is cut to stop it from going brown.

Recipe variations

If you prefer, add fresh grapes rather than sultanas.

Pecans make a great substitute for walnuts. I sometimes use sunflower seeds if I haven't got nuts.

To turn the recipe into more of a meal, add some extra protein to your healthy Waldorf salad:

Add cubes of cheddar cheese
Or try a chicken waldorf salad by adding some pieces of cooked chicken
I regularly have a tuna Waldorf salad for my lunch. Just stir a well-drained can of tuna fish into the finished salad
If you'd prefer a vegan salad, add more nuts or roasted chickpeas

Serving and storage

This mayo-free Waldorf recipe is a great salad side dish for barbecues. Try serving it alongside these easy veggie burgers, or a low carb quiche (no pastry). I also enjoy it with leftover cold chicken or poached salmon.

Healthy apple and celery salad is also ideal for a quick meal prep lunch. Add some chunks for cheese for extra protein. It's convenient for a packed lunch or picnic.

Eat the salad immediately, or store it in the fridge for up to a day in an airtight container. The celery will remain crunchy, but the apples will gradually soften after a day.

When I'm making the recipe for meal prep, I often mix it directly in a lidded container so it's ready for storage in the fridge.

I don't recommend freezing healthy Waldorf salad as the apples will go mushy when defrosted.

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best apples for Waldorf salad?

The best apples for Waldorf salad are crisp and crunchy, and it's preferable to use eating or dessert apples rather than cooking apples. Other than that, it's down to personal preference. Apples with red skins look pretty in a salad. For extra sweetness, use an apple such as Gala, and for a tangier salad, use Granny Smiths.

Is Waldorf salad healthy?

Waldorf salad is made with celery and apples which are a healthy choice. However, the classic dressing can be very high in calories, and is often made with less healthy fats. This healthy celery and apple salad has a light Greek yogurt dressing.

Other healthy salads you might like

Why not try one of these other delicious healthy salad recipes? They are all mayo-free and made with healthy oils.

You might also like to browse the vegetable and salad category.

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