A Southern Grace: dorf.

September 17, 2010

dorf.

Yum

Having just dazzled you all with my impressive knowledge of multiple languages, I'll now take this opportunity to bring praise to my native tongue.


There's a lengthy list of words in the English language that I find extremely entertaining to say. I'm sure many of them have their origins elsewhere, but we Americans seem to have claimed them as our own.

Discombobulate. Thwart. Indubitably. Kumquat. Sassafras. Goiter. The list goes on and on.*

*I've just realized I'm way too easy to amuse...

A word that I've recently added to the list is Waldorf. Now, I've never stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (and probably never will), but I have seen Serendipity and Coming to America multiple times and it's featured in both of those charming flicks.

Are you asking yourself why you should care? I do have a point. The Waldorf-Astoria is responsible for a classic side dish that I've come to love--Waldorf salad. This seemingly random combination of ingredients plays together quite nicely in the mouth--crisp, juicy apples, crunchy nuts and celery, and sweet, chewy raisins, all slathered in a slightly tangy, creamy sauce. Plus, it's extremely easy to make.


And let's not forget how enjoyable it is to say the name out loud...

WalDORF Salad (Go on, just say it. The name's Dorf. Wal Dorf. Ha.)
1/2 cup walnuts halves, sliced almonds, pecan pieces, what-have-you, toasted
1/2 cup yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, minced

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 lemon, zest finely grated
Freshly ground black pepper
2 large crisp apples, such as Gala, cored and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 ribs celery (with leaves), sliced into 1/2-inch-thick pieces (leaves chopped)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/2 lemon, juiced

Whisk the yogurt, mayonnaise, parsley, n
utmeg, honey, and lemon zest in a large bowl and season generously with pepper.
Add the apples, celery, and raisins to the bowl, and sprinkle with the lemon juice; then toss with the dressing. Cover and refrigerate if not serving immediately.

72 comments:

CC11 said...

I love me a WalDorf :)

And yes, I had never heard the word discomobulate until I heard it from Pacey on Dawson's Creek...

J e l e n a said...

This salad is a classic ! Well done!

Faith said...

I haven't had this salad (the Dorf ;) ) in forever! I need to give your recipe a try...I love that you used mostly yogurt with just a little mayo. More calories saved for dessert. ;)

Barbara said...

My mother's favorite salad! We had it constantly when I was a kid. And I know she made a quick version for herself as she got older...just celery, walnuts, apples with mayo on lettuce.
I really like your refinements, Grace. A little honey, some zest and cutting the mayo with some yogurt. All the difference in the world. Yum.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A delicious speciality! That Waldorf salad looks so good!

Cheers,

Rosa

Anonymous said...

A terrific classic salad, perfect for the apple season!

lisa is cooking said...

My Mom used to make waldorf salad from time to time, but I've never made. Thanks for reviving a classic!

José Manuel said...

No conocía esta receta, que aspecto más increible tiene. Saludos

Jennifer said...

LOL I am also easily amused! I love Waldorf DORF Salad, but I bet it is tons better if you make it yourself, YUM

TKW said...

Since I giggled at the sight of the word "goiter," I am obviously also easily amused.

Waldorf salad was on our table at every Thanksgiving (sans raisins).

Cara said...

Apples, raisins and honey? You can't go wrong! I love that this dressing contains so much yogurt and so very little mayonnaise.

Kathy Walker said...

I love the Waldorf Salad! My daughter on the other hand doesn't like all the "crunchy stuff"!

Angie's Recipes said...

"discomobulate"? I gotta look into my dictionary after the reply...
Love the waldorf salad...but I prefer them with just a little mayo.

Mel said...

Although I have to admit I'm not so much a fan of the almighty Waldorf salad, I DO love the name and have been chanting "waldorf" all morning, thanks to you!

The Blonde Duck said...

I've never had the salad, but I do adore crunching the word about in sentences!

Lucie said...

I love the flavor combinations in a Waldorf salad! Here's another idea: chopped cabbage, apples, nuts, with honey mustard dressing... mmm!

La Bella Cooks said...

Maybe you can name a son Waldorf. Has that upper-crust British sound to it that everyone will adore ;)
The salad looks fab.

grace said...

Discombobulate! That's always been a winner.

I've never heard of the WalDORF salad, but the combination of ingredients is making me drool!

Marjie said...

It looks great. Now, if it would stop raining so I could go fetch me some apples from that tree!

vanillasugarblog said...

mmm, yes please. i lurve this salad.
i went to the waldorf in nyc and it's all that. trust me. fancy schmancy.

tamilyn said...

I like mine sans the raisins.......

Pam said...

I've only had a walDORF salad once and I loved it... thanks for reminding me.

Gloria Baker said...

This salad look wonderful! Grace, x gloria

The Southern Cookbook said...

Calssic salad. Well done ;)

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

Haha, I'm just as easily amused. Happen to love a salad with some sweetness so this looks fantastic.

scrambledhenfruit said...

Love your Waldorf salad- so perfect for this time of year! (And I do love those ten dollar words, too.)

sweetlife said...

I love dorf salad, but i love how you cut back on the mayo and added more yogurt...I can only handle so much mayo....yummy

sweetlife

Unknown said...

Waldorf....there. I said it LOL. but I've never had it. No reason....just haven't. what a doofus I am! (another funny word.) And what about platipus? that's a weird word. I mean...isn't bad enough that the animal itself looks ridiculous....but did they have to give it THAT name?
btw....your salad looks beautimus. (is that a real word? it should be)

Anonymous said...

i'll like a wardork, i mean, wardofF salad, please! :D

Von said...

I have a friend who has a fascination for lots of words too =) Which is how I learn some interesting words....(my vocab's pretty bad...haha)

I've never had waldorf salad before, but I love the sound of walnuts and apples! Yum!

Joanne said...

haha we must have similar maturity levels because I just laughed my way through saying those words as well!

The Waldorf salad is fantastic. A serious classic and for good reason! Delicious!

Nadji said...

une délicieuse spécialité.
J'aime beaucoup.
Bon weekend et à bientôt.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Haha I'm so glad that you mentioned Coming to America! It's one of my favourite ever movies! :P

Mimi said...

Nice twist on a classic salad.
Mimi

Hungry Dog said...

I do as well enjoy a WalDorf salad. nice job.

Lisa-Marie said...

Good words Grace, you should say then with an English accent too!

I love Waldorf salad, we generally include a blue cheese too though! Nom nom nom!

Carolyn Jung said...

An oldie but goodie that one never gets tired of eating, especially in summer.

Nutmeg Nanny said...

Ok I have a confession. I have never had Waldorf salad...sigh. I know. I'm pathetic :) BTW I love Coming to America. Such a classic movie. In fact I think I'm going to watch that DVD right now (I'm totally not kidding) :)

Lori said...

I know I have said this before but I am sure you and my Dad would get along so well. He use to ask me to look up in the phone book, names like Al E. Gator... I love Wal Dorf- but don't tell my husband.

Unknown said...

This is one of those things that as a non American I am familiar with but have never had. I can't think why not as it looks easy enough and delicious

shaz said...

Ha ha ha, nice to meet you Wal. I love waldorf salad - usually I use granny smith apples though, I like the tang. The addition of nutmeg sounds delicious. Great job Grace. And great list of words - discombobulate is a personal favourite too :)

FOODESSA said...

Grace...So many of the words you mentioned never crossed paths with me...except 'Discombobulate' LOL There was a time where I had adopted this word and drove my familly bonkers!!!

The Waldorf salad is just in time for me to enjoy our Quebec potatoes and apples to be mixed into a salad I never made or ever had anywhere. Thanks for bringing it into the rich Astoria light for us ;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia

pierre said...

i slept once there I should have ordered it !!Pierre de Paris

Megan said...

This Waldorf Salad sounds delicious! My mom used to make this for us for Easter holiday every year. Yum! I love fun words to say, my favorites are delineate, abide & pernicious. (Now to find dishes that incorporate them...hmmmm)

Chef Dennis Littley said...

I have not thought of a Waldorf salad in so long, wow....what a great salad!! Yours does look delicious.
thanks for reminding us all how good that salad is!

Jaime said...

haha i love your sense of humor. i always thought the waldorf salad had lettuce in it! i am not a nut fan but i'd eat this w/o the nuts :)

Tabitha Blue said...

Haha, I just love you... I want to be your real life friend and come over for dinner and laugh. You make me laugh! And I love this salad. I'll have to try your recipe. :)

~Tabitha

Robin said...

I have never put nutmeg in this type of salad, sounds awesome! Perfect Fall salad!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

With all those apples in the fridge Dorf sounds pretty good right now.

Juliana said...

Grace, your Waldorf salad looks delicious...love the picture...SO SO tempting :-)

Albany Jane said...

My mom loves this salad, minus the mayo.

I just can't get down with the combo. Is it sweet? Is it savory? Pick one, Waldorf, you're confusing my tastebuds!

marla {family fresh cooking} said...

So you brought back Spam & now the walDORF salad? Nice retro dish here. It does look very tasty & dorfy indeed! xo

kellypea said...

Ubiquitous, serendipitous, recalcitrant, pulchritudinous...I totally get it. Seriously. Can we PLEASE have lunch some day???? Love this rendition of a Waldorf. The mayo is tamed and it sounds quite pleasing. Mmmm....

Emily said...

I don't think I've ever had this salad, but I know I would love it!

kimberleyblue said...

My mom used to make a great waldorf salad, and I've been craving it lately (well, okay, for the past year). Unfortunately, I'm allergic to most apples when they're not cooked, and to almonds, so a great looking version of the salad, like this one, is off limits. It breaks my heart, because this sounds perfect!

Catherine said...

Oh. My. Goodness. This looks fabulous and delicious and so healthy!

LilSis said...

I had to chuckle when you mentioned discombobulate. I'd much rather say that I'm discombobulated (which happens often) instead of saying that I'm just plain confused.

Your photos of the WalDORF salad make me want one right now. I've never had one or made one, but it looks scrumptious! (Another word I love to say.)

Anonymous said...

I can always count on you to get me laughing quietly to myself :P And I must say I've never quite been enticed by a salad as this! Will give this a go next time I've got me some apples on hand :)

Cookie baker Lynn said...

I like easily amused. Maybe because I am, too. Put the word "weasel" in any sentence and it automatically becomes funny. Try it. And pass the salad, please. It looks wonderful.

Anonymous said...

It is so weird to look at some words and really think about them. Thwart. That will be on my mind all day now ;)

Lyndas recipe box said...

I love Waldorf salad and haven't had it years...acually, I've never made it, but a family friend made the best I've ever eaten. Thanks for reminding me of this yummy classic Grace.

cocoa and coconut said...

Warfolf salad is such a classic recipe! Thank you for reminding me of it.

Grace Cowling Mum apprentice said...

I need to make some of this salad! Spring over here in Australia so the perfect time to do it also! Walnuts are awesome!

Heidi - Apples Under My Bed said...

I have never had a Waldorf salad - shock! I am keen to try it. Love all this language talk too - fascinating!
Heidi xo

Barbara said...

Where are you Grace? Is everything OK?

LW Southern Catering said...

This looks sssooooooooo good. I will definitely be giving this recipe a try. Hopefully it will taste as good as it looks...

pigpigscorner said...

This Waldorf salad is my kind of salad without all those leafy greens =P

foodhoe said...

wow, I haven't seem a waldorf salad in quite a while, but I do love the combination of sweet and savory and the many refreshing textures... I especially like the idea of adding fresh herbs!

petite nyonya said...

fruit salad is so fine by me..as long as it is not rabbit food salad :)

Chef Fresco said...

My mom always makes waldorf salad for christmas every year. I never have been the biggest fan. But I know she doesn't use ingredients like these. Maybe I will give yours a try and impress her. =)

Jeanne @ CookSister! said...

Mmm, I love Waldorf salad. And I am as easily amused by language as you! You forgot Molybdenum, Sisyphean and globule :)

ashlee Simpson hairstyles 2012 said...

This looks sssooooooooo good. I will definitely be giving this recipe a try. Hopefully it will taste as good as it looks...