Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe - Watergate Salad (2024)

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posted by Crissy Pageon Jun 27, 2017 (updated Jan 19, 2024) 11 comments »

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Leave it to grandma to throw a few tasty ingredients into a bowl, mix it up with a little love and call it a dessert worthy of taking to a potluck. That’s just exactly what my grandma did with this yummy pistachio fluff salad when I was a kid and I’ve been loving the recipe ever since.

I’ve seen this recipe called pistachio delight, watergate salad, green goop, green fluff, green stuff, shut the gate salad, and pistachio mallow salad. Phew, this green dessert has a lot of monikers! No matter what you call it, this easy dessert recipe is always a winner with my family.

This recipe sort of reminds me of another family favorite recipe, this tasty ambrosia salad.

Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe

Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe - Watergate Salad (1)

Here’s the funny thing about this pistachio fluff salad. I actually don’t normally care for marshmallows unless they’ve been toasted and smushed between two graham crackers with a chunk of chocolate!

I’m definitely not one to snack on mini marshmallows, but, I LOVE to eat them incorporated into this scrumptious pistachio fluff salad. Go figure. It just works for me!

Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe - Watergate Salad (2)

I’m a big fan of pecans, so I adore the crunch and flavor that the chopped pecans add to this pistachio dessert, but if you don’t like pecans you can certainly leave them out. I know from past comments on my recipes that quite a few of you are not partial to nuts in your recipes! :)

RELATED: Try my creamy grape salad or my mom’s classic peanut butter no bake cookies!

Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe - Watergate Salad (3)

If you ask me, it’s not officially summertime until I’ve whipped up at least one batch of this amazing pistachio fluff salad dessert. I’m planning to make a big bowl for our 4th of July celebration next month and I’d highly recommend that you do the same!

If you’ve made this dessert before, I’d love to know what YOUR family calls it. Leave a comment below and let me know, and be sure to watch our fun tutorial video! :)

More Classic Summertime Recipes

  • Three Bean Salad
  • Classic Potato Salad
  • Cowboy Caviar
  • Ambrosia Salad
Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe - Watergate Salad (4)
Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe - Watergate Salad (5)

This classic dessert is easy to make and tastes delicious every time.

Ingredients

  • 1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained (I used sweetened in its own juice).
  • 1 3.4oz. box pistachio instant pudding
  • 1 ¼ cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1 8oz. container whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • maraschino cherries for topping, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl stir together the pineapple and the pudding. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until well blended. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Optional, top with more chopped pecans and maraschino cherries.

Desserts Salads

originally published on Jun 27, 2017 (last updated Jan 19, 2024)

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11 comments on “Pistachio Fluff Salad”

  1. Gret Reply

    Can you add pistachio nuts instead of pecans? Allergic to pecans.

  2. Sudan Napoli Berens Reply

    Definitely making this in a few hours for our Christmas dessert! My Mother In Law said everyone would ask her to bring “that green stuff” to get together. Years ago when I was a Girl Scout Leader we called it Pistachio Fluff. For fundraising we’d hold our annual Spaghetti dinners along with salad, dinner rolls & of course Pistachio Fluff. It was always a huge hit & allowed our troop of girls to earn money for camp every year! I don’t recall adding marshmallows though so… I’m crossing my fingers! I have everything except those & I’m fairly certain I won’t find any stores open nearby. I’m betting that most of the girls; now we’ll into their 40’s are still making this and have passed it down to their children as well. Happy Holidays to all and TYFS!

    Rating: 5

  3. Kaylene Reply

    Can this recipe be made the day before? Looks delicious!

  4. AmyStar Reply

    I also add mandarin oranges and shredded coconut that’s how my gram made it I make it every holiday

    Rating: 5

    • Crissy Reply

      Ooh yummy!

  5. Mary Reply

    Hi Crissy, I have a recipe similar to this that we call a “dump salad”….dump all ingr. in bowl and mix together. It has the pineapple, pistachio pudding, cool whip and a carton of cottage cheese. Sometimes I add marshmallows or cherries.

  6. Maggie Valera Reply

    We have green stuff but there are no marshmallows at all. It’s an entire can of crushed pineapple, mixed with a 6oz box of Lime Jello. Mix well and let sit for a couple of hours so that the pineapple can soften the gelatin. Then add a large container of cottage cheese (I prefer small curd, others prefer large curd, and some prefer no curd, if that’s the case just throw it the blender till it’s smooth) and add a regular container of nondairy whipped topping, mix all 4 ingredients together and chill over night.

    For storing it I’ve found that putting it shallow containers works best. I keep the cool whip containers and just keep using them. One batch of this fits in 3 cool whip containers. Taller containers cause more of the pineapple juice to settle to the bottom and it won’t keep the firm texture. Because of pineapple and cottage cheese it not only makes a great snack or dessert but it also makes a guilt free summer breakfast! If you ever lose this recipe, you’ll find it by Googling “green stuff”, there is also “orange stuff” and “red stuff” that only requires a change of Jello flavor

  7. Nancie L. Reply

    I don’t drain my pineapple and have used the tidbits before (just as yummy), we’ve always called it Watergate Salad. No matter what you call it, it is SO good!

  8. Kristin M Reply

    As a kid I always called this “That Green Stuff that Grandma Makes.” ? I haven’t seen this recipe in years, but I LOVE it and will absolutely be pinning this. Thank you for sharing! Also, that milk glass serving bowl is stunning.. oh my goodness. ?

  9. Vicki Skonieczny Reply

    Hi Crissy,
    Finally someone who gets it about the “raw” marshmallows as I like to call it. I can eat them toasted, in a s’more, melted into hot chocolate or even love them in rice krispies treats. But I simply cannot eat a plain old marshmallow except in “green ambrosia” salad, as my grandmother used to call it. I really think it’s a textural thing with me. The marshmallow on its own just has too funky of a feel in my mouth. I find them disgusting, even the mini ones. However, in the salad, I think it’s mixed with the different textures of the fruit and especially the nuts that makes it tolerable, even enjoyable. Thanks for the recipe, it really takes me back. My grandmother’s was exactly the same except she sprinkled coconut into hers too.

  10. Shelli Reply

    We just call it green salad!! Lol
    All the kids always eat some green salad!

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Pistachio Fluff Salad Recipe - Watergate Salad (2024)

FAQs

Why is pistachio salad called Watergate salad? ›

But the particular mix of ingredients that became the standard Watergate salad likely originated with the Jell-O brand, which introduced a line of pistachio pudding mix in 1976. This was two years after President Richard Nixon resigned, and the Watergate scandal was still fresh in Americans' minds.

What is the difference between ambrosia and Watergate? ›

Watergate has a nutty, sweet flavor from the pistachio flavoring while ambrosia features a prominent coconut flavor. Another dead giveaway is the signature minty green color of a Watergate salad that comes courtesy of the pistachio pudding blend while ambrosia salad has a white color.

Why is it called Watergate cake? ›

According to WAMU reporter Gabe Bullard, the name may be satirical wordplay: an early recipe published by the Hagerstown Daily Mail of Maryland in September 1974 (a month after the resignation of Richard Nixon) credits Christine Hatcher, who gave the cake its name "because of all the nuts that are in it." Author Joseph ...

What is pink fluff made of? ›

The most common recipes typically include at least a can of crushed pineapples, a container of whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), and a packet of Jello (usually strawberry)—often with canned cherries or cranberries mixed in.

What was Watergate and why was it called Watergate? ›

It originated from attempts by the Nixon administration to conceal its involvement in the June 17, 1972, break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters located in the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Why do they leave the shells on pistachios? ›

Unlike other nuts, pistachios split naturally as they grow. After being harvested, pistachio nuts can be roasted and salted while inside their shell. The natural crack provides an opening for salt to enter the shell. This eliminates the shelling process that other nuts have to undergo prior to roasting.

Is Ambrosia a Southern thing? ›

Ambrosia is an American variety of fruit salad originating in the Southern United States. Most ambrosia recipes contain canned (often sweetened) or fresh pineapple, canned mandarin orange slices or fresh orange sections, miniature marshmallows, and coconut.

What is Watergate famous for? ›

Aerial view of the Watergate complex, site of June 17, 1972 burglary of Democratic National Committee Headquarters that became synonymous with the President Nixon cover up and eventual resignation. The break-ins occurred in the office building in the center.

What is Elvis Presley cake? ›

You don't have to be Young and Beautiful to appreciate the Elvis Presley Cake. After one bite, you'll be saying that you Can't Help Falling in Love with how easy it is to make this fruity cake, which has a pineapple topping and creamy, decadent cream cheese frosting.

Why is it called Robert Redford cake? ›

It had been a very long time since I had an icebox cake. In the book, Dylan calls it the Robert Redford Cake and it comes from the chapter that features recipes from the 1970s. Apparently the cake is named after Redford because its as tasty as he is sexy.

What is the Watergate scandal dish? ›

Watergate salad, also referred to as Pistachio Delight or Shut the Gate salad, is a side dish salad or dessert salad made from pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, whipped topping, crushed pecans, and marshmallows. It is very quick and simple to prepare: the ingredients are combined and then often chilled.

What is marshmallow fluff made of? ›

Fluff's ingredients include corn syrup, sugar syrup, vanilla flavor, and egg whites. Fluff continues to be a regional tradition in the Northeastern United States.

What is peanut butter fluff made of? ›

This easy Peanut Butter Fluff recipe makes a rich and creamy dessert dip in 10 minutes. A simple combination of cream cheese, peanut butter, instant pudding, and whipped topping is folded together and filled with plenty of chocolate and peanut butter flavor and candy pieces.

Can vegans eat marshmallow fluff? ›

Most marshmallow fluff is not vegan since it usually contains eggs or egg whites. However, there are a few brands out there that are vegan. The first is Smuckers Marshmallow Topping which happens to be "accidentally" vegan. Look for it at your local grocery store or online.

How did the Watergate complex get its name? ›

In 2004, Washington Post writer John Kelly argued that the name was most directly linked to the "Water Steps" or "Water Gate", a set of ceremonial stairs west of the Lincoln Memorial that led down to the Potomac.

Why is it called Waldorf salad? ›

Waldorf salad is named for the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, where it was first created for a charity ball given in honor of the St. Mary's Hospital for Children on March 13, 1896.

Why did they put red on pistachios? ›

Pistachios were imported from the Middle East, and they always had the distinctive bright red coloring to disguise any discolorations that occurred during shipping. But pistachio imports slowed due to relations with Iran in the early 1980s, and in response, there was a growth in American pistachio producers.

What is the pistachio capital of the United States? ›

Avenal, the Pistachio Capital of the World, is located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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