Waldorf Salad California Pizza Kitchen Copycat
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
25 mins
-
Total Time
25 mins
-
Servings
4 servings
-
Calories
722 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
American
Waldorf Salad California Pizza Kitchen Copycat
Description
Waldorf Salad California Pizza Kitchen Copycat combines cooked chicken with crunchy apples, juicy grapes, celery, and glazed walnuts over a bed of mixed greens like baby lettuce, arugula, and frisee. The dressing uses olive oil and balsamic vinegar whisked with Dijon mustard, garlic, sugar, salt, and fresh ground black pepper to add a balanced acidity and mild sweetness. Tossing the chicken and fruit mixture separately before mixing with the greens preserves texture and flavor contrast. Crumbled gorgonzola sprinkled on top adds a creamy, tangy element that complements the fruit and nuts in the salad.
The salad offers a pleasing mix of textures from tender chicken, crisp vegetables, sweet fruit, and crunchy nuts. It can be served as a main dish salad for a light yet satisfying meal. The vinaigrette’s adjustable vinegar content allows tailoring the dressing's tang to suit taste. Substituting unglazed walnuts or blue cheese for the gorgonzola gives flexibility for ingredient preferences.
Use firm eating apples such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith without peeling unless preferred. Cooking methods like poaching or grilling the chicken both work well for the base protein. Keep the salad chilled until serving for best freshness and texture.
Use extra light or preferred olive oil to control the dressing's flavor.Adjust balsamic vinegar amount to lessen or intensify the dressing's tanginess.Increase sugar in dressing if a sweeter flavor is desired.Poached or grilled chicken can be used; leftover cooked chicken makes this salad practical.Firm apples such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith are ideal; peeling is optional.Salad greens mix with baby lettuce, arugula, and frisee enhances texture variety.Plain walnuts can substitute glazed for less sweetness.Blue cheese can replace gorgonzola as a flavorful alternative.
Ingredients
Dressing
- 2/3-1 cup olive oil depending on how vinegary you want the dressing to be
- 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
Salad
- 3 cups chicken chilled, cooked, chopped
- 1 cup apple diced
- 2/3 cup red grapes quartered, seedless
- 1/2 cup celery diced
- 6-7 cups salad greens mixed
- 1/3 cup walnuts glazed
- 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese crumbled
Instructions
- To make the dressing, whisk oil and vinegar together.
- Add remaining ingredients, and whisk until combined.
- Cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.
- To make the salad, gently toss chicken, grapes, apple, celery, and walnuts together.
- Toss in salad greens and dressing (or if you prefer, you can serve the chicken salad mixture over the greens and then drizzle the dressing over the top).
- Sprinkle with Gorgonzola, and serve.
Notes
- Use extra light or preferred olive oil to control the dressing's flavor.
- Adjust balsamic vinegar amount to lessen or intensify the dressing's tanginess.
- Increase sugar in dressing if a sweeter flavor is desired.
- Poached or grilled chicken can be used; leftover cooked chicken makes this salad practical.
- Firm apples such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith are ideal; peeling is optional.
- Salad greens mix with baby lettuce, arugula, and frisee enhances texture variety.
- Plain walnuts can substitute glazed for less sweetness.
- Blue cheese can replace gorgonzola as a flavorful alternative.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 722 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 722kcal | 36% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 29g | 58% |
| Fat | 58g | 89% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 85mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 440mg | 18% |
| Potassium | 546mg | 12% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 915IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 16.7mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 88mg | 9% |
| Iron | 2.6mg | 14% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
