Chock full of fresh fruit and crunchy nuts, this dragon fruit salad recipe is perfect for packing into lunches. It goes well on its own, or stuffed into lettuce leaves, and lasts for a couple of days in the fridge for meal prep perfection. A great twist on the classic waldorf salad recipe, this version is lightened up with the addition of Greek yogurt and given a bit of a tropical twist with the addition of some ripe dragon fruit and other different flavors. It still has that great crunchy texture with a couple of added different colors.
If you need a lunchbox treat to go with this healthy salad then why not add these Vanilla Greek Yogurt Muffins to your menu plan for the week so you have a batch ready for packing?
🥗 Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad Recipe
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This fun twist on the classic Waldorf salad combines lots of fresh in-season fruit, crunchy nuts, and a deliciously zesty and light dressing made with Greek yogurt.
Why I love this recipe:
- it is a great addition to your meal prepping rotation: make a batch at the start of the week and it will last for 3-5 days if stored correctly;
- the dressing is lightened up: by using a mixture of Greek yogurt and mayonnaise so that it isn't too heavy;
- it is naturally gluten-free: obviously double check the ingredients on the mayonnaise that you decide to use;
- it is vegetarian: and easily made vegan by switching the mayonnaise for veganaise and switching out the Greek yogurt for a plant-based option. Just be mindful that this may change the flavor of the dressing.
Plus it is easy to make which is always a huge plus!
🧂 Ingredients You Need
Although using dragon fruit in a Waldorf salad may seem a little different, this is still a super simple salad made with a combination of simple ingredients such as fresh apples, juicy grapes, chopped nuts, and a deliciously light and creamy dressing with a twist.
This is not a traditional Waldorf salad that you would find at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, although loosely based on the original recipe, this is more of a zesty Waldorf with bite.
You will need:
- ripe dragon fruit: a ripe dragon fruit will be soft to the touch and hot pink. It is usually in season in the summer months, and can be found in the fruit aisle of well-stocked grocery stores, or in International markets;
- green apple: choose crisp apples like tart green granny smith apples;
- fresh red apple: pick a sweet and juicy variety like honey crisp, gala apples, or pink lady apples;
- seedless red grapes: definitely opt for seedless grapes to save the hassle of having to de-seed the grapes before using them in the salad. You want juicy grapes with lots of flavor. In a pinch, green grapes will also work;
- cilantro (coriander): you will need fresh for this recipe, dried just won't cut it;
- plain Greek yogurt: I use plain full-fat Greek yogurt, but use a fat-free version if preferred, please note the dressing will not be as creamy if this is what you decide to use;
- mayonnaise: I use an eggless variety;
- lime juice: try and find fresh limes where possible, the flavor is better, however, the bottle of lime juice will work in a pinch;
- runny honey;
- fresh ginger: try and use freshly grated ginger to add a real pop to your dressing;
- almonds: look for unsalted roasted almonds or almond slivers;
- cashews: again unsalted and roasted;
- raw crunchy walnuts: raw walnuts or walnut crumbles will work well.
You might also want to have some lettuce leaves, such as gem lettuces, for stuffing the salad into when serving.
📋 How To Make
Like most salads, this is a super easy recipe to make.
You will want to chop up the dragon fruit, red apples, green apples, and grapes and add them all to a large bowl. I like to use large mixing bowl with a lid so that it can be put straight into the fridge when assembled.
Try to cut the fruit into smallish evenly sized pieces. This will make it easier to load into a lettuce leaf when it comes time to serve, and also makes the salad easier to eat if you don't have random huge apple pieces in there.
In a separate bowl stir together all of the waldorf salad dressing ingredients. This is your yogurt, honey, mayonnaise, salt, ginger, and lime juice. Whisk well so that everything is well combined, and you have a nice smooth salad.
Pour the dressing over the salad, add in the nuts and cilantro and give everything a good toss so that the fruit and nuts are all evenly coated with the dressing.
Add the lid to the container and allow it to sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving to give it time to chill.
This dragon fruit salad is best served cold, so if you are packing it for lunch you will want to make sure that you have access to a refrigerator at work or pack it with a solid ice pack that will stay cold for the duration of the day.
🥢 Useful Products
I like to have a bunch of thin ice packs on hand in the freezer at all times. When I pack a creamy salad like this I will pack it with one ice pack on top and one ice pack on the bottom to ensure the salad stays cold when I don't have access to a fridge.
Storing Tips
This easy waldorf salad should be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for about 3 days. It should be kept cold, so if you are packing it for lunch you should put it in the fridge or pack it with some good ice packs to ensure it stays cold at all times.
It is not a good salad for freezing.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I love serving this fruity salad with some crisp, fresh lettuce leaves. Just pop a scoop of the salad into the lettuce leaf, wrap it up, and you have a delicious light lunch. If you don't like little lettuce wraps then you could serve the salad on top of a bed of lettuce instead.
If you want something a bit heartier but still want a light meal, why not mix in some cooked and chopped chicken, leftover rotisserie chicken, or leftover turkey to make a turkey or chicken waldorf salad?
Other options include serving:
- on top of a baked potato
- alongside a grilled cheese sandwich
- with some hard-boiled eggs.
Packing this salad into a lunchbox I would serve it with some slices of grilled chicken, some lettuce leaves, a sweet treat like one of these Vanilla Greek Yogurt Muffins, and a few cubes of cheese.
👪 Frequently Asked Questions
Ripe dragon fruit has a bright pink color with smooth skin. The dragon fruit should not be rock hard. If it is pretty hard then let it ripen a little until the flesh gives a little when touched, similar to a ripe avocado.
Once ripe, cut the dragon fruit in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the white flesh from the inside, starting at the top of the fruit near the steam and going along the edge. Chop the flesh into bite-sized pieces and you are good to go.
If you enjoyed this delicious salad then please leave a star rating on the recipe card, or comment below the recipe card.
Creamy Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad Recipe With Grapes
Materials
- 1 ripe dragon fruit (see notes)
- 1 green apple cut into small even cubes
- 1 red apple cut into small even cubes
- ½ cup red seedless grapes cut into halves
- ¼ cup cilantro (coriander) chopped
- 2 tablespoons roasted almonds chopped
- 2 tablespoons roasted cashews chopped
- 1 tablespoon walnuts chopped
- lettuce leaves for serving
Dressing
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (I use egg free)
- 2 teaspoons runny honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- To a large bowl add the chopped dragon fruit, red apple, green apple, and grapes and toss to combine.1 ripe dragon fruit, 1 green apple, 1 red apple, ½ cup red seedless grapes
- In a small bowl whisk together the dressing ingredients untill well combined.⅓ cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons runny honey, 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice, ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pour the dressing over the fruit mixture, add in the cilantro and chopped nuts, and toss well until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.¼ cup cilantro (coriander), 2 tablespoons roasted almonds, 2 tablespoons roasted cashews, 1 tablespoon walnuts
- Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or until chilled, and serve in lettuce cups.lettuce leaves for serving
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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