The Retro Bright-Green Dessert We Love Is Experiencing a Comeback

Retro dessert recipes will never go out of style. They remind us of our childhood when everything was simple and fun. Watergate salad is a great example. If you’ve never heard of it before, here’s a brief explanation as to what it is and how to make it!

What Is Watergate Salad?

Watergate salad is a dessert from the ’70s when it was called “pistachio pineapple delight.” Its current name was given to the dish by a Chicago food editor, and it’s making a comeback thanks to TikTok. People highly recommend trying out the dish as it only requires five ingredients and five minutes to make. Plus, its bright green color will get you in the holiday spirit.

You can also switch up the ingredients as you like. For example, you can swap out walnuts for pecans toasted in coconut oil. If you have a nut allergy, you can skip the nuts completely. You can also add fresh fruit instead of canned. You can use some of the juice from the fruit to add a little extra punch. Adding some coconut will give it an exotic taste. But at the end of the day, the star ingredients are pineapple and pistachio.

How to Make It

Ingredients:

A single 3.4 oz packet of pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix
One 8 oz tin of crushed pineapple in its natural juice
A generous handful, about 1 cup, of dainty marshmallows
A half-cup of finely chopped walnuts
4 oz of refreshing, frozen whipped topping (make sure it’s thawed)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the pineapple (including juice), pistachio pudding mix, mini marshmallows, and chopped walnuts.
Fold in the thawed whipped topping until the mixture is well-blended.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the dessert to set.