A Refreshing and Healthy Salad For a Hot and Sunny Day
Whenever I hear the name Waldorf, I immediately associate the salad with being super upscale and high end. Maybe that is the genius behind why California Pizza Kitchen decided to add this to their menu; however they did not invent this salad so technically this isn’t the California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Salad Recipe, but keep reading and I’ll explain further.
The Famous Waldorf Astoria
The original Waldorf Hotel opened up in New York City (5th Avenue) in 1893. This hotel was built by William Waldorf Astor, a member of the prominent Astor family. Four years later, in 1897, his cousin, John Jacob Astor IV, opened the Astoria Hotel adjacent to the Waldorf. The two hotels were eventually connected and became known as the Waldorf Astoria.
The goal for the hotel was to become a symbol of luxury and a social center of New York for the wealthy and celebrities from around the world. The hotel was known for the high end parties and high society events.
Fun Fact: The Waldorf Astoria innovated the hotel industry by being one of the first to offer complete electricity, private bathrooms in each room, and room service.
The Waldorf Astoria was recently sold to a Chinese insurance company, Anbang Insurance Group, for almost $2 billion, which is one of the most expensive hotel deals ever. The brand name continues to live on, and so does the Waldorf salad.
The Waldorf Salad Recipe is REALLY Old
The Waldorf Salad was invented by Oscar Tschirky, who was the maître d’hôtel at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. He created the salad in 1896 for the hotel’s opening. The original version of the salad consisted simply of apples, celery, and mayonnaise. Walnuts were later added to the recipe and have since become a standard ingredient in the salad.
The Waldorf salad recipe is pretty simple and you can get all of the ingredients in a single trip to just about any grocery store. To keep the fresh taste, you will want to make your grilled chicken a day ahead and then you can meal prep that for a healthy Waldorf salad every day of the week until you get sick of it. 😂
The California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Salad Recipe is NOT Old
California Pizza Kitchen introduced the Waldorf Salad to their menu in 2008; as a part of expanding beyond the pizzas to get a more diverse menu selection with healthier options. The California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf salad recipe is slightly modified (and some say perfected) by creating a more complex Dijon balsamic dressing, and candied walnuts.
Let’s compare and contrast the Waldorf Astoria version and the California Pizza Kitchen version and you can decide which is more tempting for you. However, despite this beautiful image, California Pizza Kitchen decided to remove the Waldorf Salad from their menu as of recently. So this recipe is much needed!
Similar to meal prepping, I also recommend making a larger portion of the dressing and storing it in a mason jar for future salads or as a dressing on a sandwich. It’s got a great flavor that works with just about anything; and it also can help mask the bitterness of kale if you’re making a kale salad (or we also have the Chick fil a Kale Crunch Salad recipe too)
Enjoy making this great salad. If you make the recipe please be sure to send us a photo of your final dish!
California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Salad Recipe
Love the taste of California Pizza Kitchen’s Waldorf Salad but want to make it at home? This recipe is a spot-on copycat that brings delicious apples, grapes, and Gorgonzola cheese straight to your table. Mixed with juicy chicken and crunchy walnuts, it’s all dressed in a tangy balsamic-Dijon dressing. The salad is simple to customize and perfect for using up leftover chicken. Keep it fresh by tossing it with the dressing just before you eat, and enjoy this favorite for up to 3 days when stored in the fridge.
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- 3 cups cooked chicken (chilled, chopped)
- 1 cup apple (diced)
- 2/3 cup seedless red grapes (quartered)
- 1/2 cup celery (diced)
- 1/3 cup glazed walnuts
- 1/4 cup Gorgonzola cheese (crumbled)
- 6-7 cups mixed salad greens
- 2/3 – 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (fresh ground)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Chop 3 cups of cooked chicken into bite-size pieces. Place in the refrigerator to keep chilled.
Dice 1 cup of apple into bite-sized pieces. If you like, you can leave the skin on for extra color and texture.
Slice 2/3 cup of seedless red grapes into quarters.
Dice 1/2 cup of celery.
Measure 6-7 cups of mixed salad greens, like baby lettuce, arugula, and frisee.
If using whole walnuts, chop 1/3 cup to a desired size for the salad.
Crumble 1/4 cup of Gorgonzola cheese.
Cooking / Creating
In a mixing bowl, whisk together 2/3 to 1 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar to create the base of the dressing.
To the oil and vinegar mixture, add 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Whisk until all ingredients are well-combined.
Cover the dressing and refrigerate until ready to use.
In a large bowl, gently toss together the chilled chicken, diced apple, quartered grapes, diced celery, and chopped walnuts.
Serving / Presentation
Just before you're ready to serve, toss the salad greens with the chicken mixture. If you prefer, you can place the salad greens onto plates and then top with the chicken mixture.
Drizzle the balsamic-Dijon dressing over the salad. Toss lightly to dress the salad evenly.
Sprinkle the crumbled Gorgonzola cheese over the top of each serving.
Serve the salad immediately to ensure the greens stay crisp and the flavors are fresh. Enjoy your homemade California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Salad!
Enjoy this delicious summer time salad without the hefty price tag.