Page 89 - All About History - Issue 53-17

How to make…

ORIGINAL WALDORF SALAD

A BOWL OF AMERICAN HISTORY NEW YORK, USA, 1896-PRESENT

Ingredients
O 2 apples
O 2 sticks celery
O Good quality mayonnaise
Optional:
O Salt and pepper
O Walnuts
O Lettuce
O Grapes
O Lemon juice
O Crème fraiche
O Mustard

Did

you know?

The Waldorf restaurants are
linked with creating other
dishes, such as Thousand
Island Dressing, Eggs
Benedict and
Veal Oscar.

METHOD
ne of the most famous hotels in New York City, the

Waldorf Astoria, opened its doors in 1893 to much 01 For the original salad, straight from Oscar 04 Although not in Oscar’s original recipe, a

pomp and circumstance. To celebrate the opening, a Tschirky’s 1896 cookbook, begin by peeling classic Waldorf salad is served on a bed of
Ohigh-society charity dinner served (among many other and coring two apples. The recipe doesn’t lettuce. Tear up some leaves and line a small
culinary delights) the first Waldorf salad — a dish that has specify what kind of apples, but the Waldorf bowl to serve.
become famous the world over. Astoria’s updated recipe uses the Granny 05 For more depth of flavour, try squeezing

It wasn’t a chef that developed the original recipe, but the Smith and Fuji varieties. lemon juice over the apples before adding

maître d’hôtel, Oscar Tschirky, who became a celebrity in his 02 Chop the apples and celery into small pieces the mayonnaise. You can also add grapes for
own right for his culinary ingenuity (he published his own and mix together. Add some mayonnaise a sweet tang, and lift the mayo with Dijon
cookbook in 1896), as well as his penchant for planning and and stir through the apples and celery. The mustard. If you’re not a fan of mayo, try
executing lavish private parties. amount of mayonnaise isn’t specified in using crème fraiche as a substitute.

Still one of the most ordered dishes on the hotel’s menus Oscar’s recipe, so use your own judgement! 06 Of course, no post-1920s Waldorf salad is
right up until the Waldorf Astoria closed its doors for 03 The original recipe for Waldorf salad is that complete without the addition of walnuts.

renovation earlier this year, the recipe has been in constant simple! However, there are plenty of tasty Chop them up and add to the salad. The
flux with every chef adding their own twist. For example, adaptations to try if you fancy adding a bit Waldorf Astoria’s modern chefs have taken
walnuts in the salad appear in cookbooks around 1928, but more to your dish – you could start with to adding candied walnuts for a sweet-and- © Alamy
are now regarded as an essential ingredient! seasoning with salt and pepper. savoury hit.

Did you make it? How did it go? www.historyanswers.co.uk /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag 89