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Watergate Salad is a classic retro dessert salad made with pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows, pecans, and Cool Whip. Also known as pistachio salad or green fluff, it takes just a few minutes to make and has a creamy texture with crunchy and chewy bites throughout.
What is Watergate Salad?
I’ll be honest: dessert salads were completely new to me when I started blogging. We never ate fluff, ambrosia, or sweet salads when I was growing up, so I wasn’t sure what I would think the first time I made one. As it turns out, I loved it, and so did my family. Pistachio is already one of my favorite flavors, and paired with pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans, this is one of those quirky old-fashioned recipes that just works.
Watergate Salad has been around since the 1970s (invented by Kraft using their pistachio pudding mix) and goes by all sorts of names, including Pistachio Pineapple Delight, Green Fluff, Green Stuff, and even Green Goop. It differs from Ambrosia because you add pudding mix for extra flavor. Whatever you call it, this easy no-bake recipe is creamy, sweet, nostalgic, and perfect when you need a fast dessert or holiday side dish.
Watergate Salad Ingredients
- Pistachio pudding mix: be sure to get instant pistachio pudding. There is no substitute; this recipe was invented using pistachio pudding.
- Crushed pineapple: a 20 ounce can with pineapple juice
- Cool Whip: an 8-ounce container of frozen whipped topping, thawed. You can use any brand of whipped topping (any fat content, even sugar free). If you want to use 3 cups of fresh whipped cream, you can, but it won’t last as long.
- Pecans: you can use your favorite nuts
- Marshmallows: miniature marshmallows are best, and be sure to use fresh (not stale) marshmallows.
- Because of its pastel color, this is the perfect Easter fluff salad! You could even use colorful marshmallows for more color.
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Dorothy’s Watergate Salad Tips
- Make sure to use INSTANT pudding mix so your pistachio delight sets up.
- You can make easy Watergate salad up to 2 days in advance. In fact, it’s better the longer it sits because the flavors meld and it’ll set up better.
- Don’t skip the marshmallows or your fluff will be too wet.
- Add this to a graham cracker pie crust to make Pistachio Pie!
- Variations: Add 1 cup shredded coconut or mix 8 ounces cream cheese into the pudding mixture. If you want to add cottage cheese you can too, but I don’t, it’s not the traditional way of making it.
Watergate Fluff Salad Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant pistachio pudding mix
- 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice
- 1 (8 ounce) container cool whip
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Add pudding mix and pineapple with the juice to a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Fold in Cool Whip. Then stir in marshmallows and pecans.
- Chill 30 minutes before serving. Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Make sure to use INSTANT pudding mix.
- If you find sugar-free pudding mix you can also use sugar-free cool whip but remember that the pineapple has sugar in it.
- Use walnuts in place of pecans if you prefer.
- Don’t skip the marshmallows or your fluff will be too wet.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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How to make Watergate Salad
- Don’t drain the pineapple – the liquid will make the pudding. Note: if you want a thicker salad, drain the pineapple first. This is personal preference.
- Be sure to fold in the whipped topping.
- Add the nuts and marshmallows and then chill to set.
Pistachio Salad FAQ
Traditionally no, but you can add 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut to the recipe.
No – you do not need to make the pudding recipe. Instead, the pineapple juice makes the creamy pudding.
Are there pieces of pistachios in the pudding? Can I substitute the pistachio pudding for another kind? I can not have nuts.
You can use any flavor pudding you want! There are no actual pistachios in the mix, but I don’t know if the mix contains any actual nuts or extracts, etc.
The last 2 times that I made this it turned out soupy, not at all like it used to. Times being what they are have the manufacturers cut back on the pineapple and added more juice? I use tibits and it’s always turned out great before!
Can yoh use pineapple tidbits instead of crushed?
Yes
My mom made this years ago and I had forgotten it until this recipe popped up in Facebook. A yummy memory! And so easy.
What’s another pudding flavor that would be good with this (vanilla is kinda boring, IMO). Not a fan of pistachios. Thanks!
I’ve made fluff with banana pudding and also Oreo pudding (you can search those on the site). Or use coconut or cheesecake pudding with the rest of the Watergate salad ingredients.
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