Keto Watergate Salad Recipe (2024)

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This nutty, creamy, and crazy delicious keto Watergate Salad recipe is a rich, flavorful pistachio cheesecake mousse with pineapple and cherries. It will transport you right back to the summer potlucks of your youth!

Summer potluck foods are some of my most memorable childhood food memories.

There was my mom’s famous baked beans, for starters. And her taco salad. And her creamy mayo-based dressing for topping tomatoes right out of the garden.

My grandma on my dad’s side made this sort-of pineapple slab pie with vanilla frosting that was topped with almonds and cherries, which sounds weird as heck, but was actually pretty fabulous.

And on rare occasions, some kind of ambrosia salad would turn up. It was usually brought by a distant relative, no one in my close family made it. The minty green-colored one with the nutty flavor was always my favorite...the Watergate Salad!

Jump to:
  • The Best Easy Keto Watergate Salad Recipe
  • Tips for Making Watergate Salad
  • Watergate Salad FAQs
  • More No Bake Summer Dessert Recipes to Try
  • Keto Watergate Salad Recipe

Remaking this classic sweet treat into something that’s a bit healthier has been on my list of things to do for quite some time now. But I was making it overly complicated.

I wanted to come up with a from-scratch (healthy) recipe for every component: pistachio pudding, cool whip, marshmallows, etc. What a process!

In the end I realized that the whole point of Watergate Salad was simplicity. This low carb and keto version of Watergate Salad is simplified, but still full of flavor and texture!

The Best Easy Keto Watergate Salad Recipe

For this recipe, I use a base of cream cheese with whipped cream folded in to give it a mousse-like texture.

It’s flavored with fresh pineapple (a little goes a long way), vanilla, almond extract, and pistachio. You can add shredded coconut to really take it over the top.

This keto recipe has just 6g net carbs per serving (remember net carbs = total carbs – fiber) if you make it with keto sweetener. And if keto sweetener isn’t your thing, honey is delicious and you only need a touch!

Ingredients

  • Cream cheese
  • Fresh pineapple
  • Vanilla extract
  • Almond extract
  • Allulose sweetener
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Pistachios
  • Cherries
  1. Whip the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks in a large bowl.
  2. In a separate large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and pineapple.
  3. Beat the vanilla extract, almond extract, and keto sweetener into the cream cheese/pineapple mixture. The mixture will be runny.
  4. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese/pineapple mixture ¼ at a time until it's all incorporated.
  5. Add the cherries and pistachios.
  6. Gently fold them into the mixture until incorporated.

How to Store Watergate Salad

Store this treat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note that it will stiffen slightly, but still have a mousse-like texture.

Variations on this Watergate Salad Recipe

  • Stir in up to ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut.
  • Swap out the pistachios for any type of nuts you like. Pecans are another favorite of mine!
  • Instead of almond extract, use pistachio extract or coconut extract.

Tips for Making Watergate Salad

  • Instead of fresh pineapple, you can use canned pineapple chunks, canned pineapple tidbits, or canned crushed pineapple in juice. Drain it well and dab it with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  • To keep the carbs down, use fresh cherries if they’re in season, or frozen cherries if they’re not. You can use maraschino cherries or for a real treat use Amarena cherries if the sugar/carbs aren't a concern. If you use maraschino or Amarena cherries, you can reduce the sugar a bit by rinsing off the syrup and dabbing them dry.
  • Don’t be tempted to add more almond extract, a little really goes a long way in this recipe.

Watergate Salad FAQs

What is Watergate Salad?

This is a type of dessert salad (also served as a side dish) similar to ambrosia. It’s usually made out of pistachio pudding mix, whipped topping, canned pineapple, and marshmallow.

It’s a popular treat to bring to potlucks in Mid-Western and Southern states of the US.

Why is it Called Watergate Salad?

One of the things I find most interesting is the intermingling of culture and cuisine. That’s the case with this salad. It's the stuff urban legends are made of. Like any good mystery, the rumors floating around are what make it intriguing.

General Foods (now Kraft Heinz) released their recipe for Pistachio Pineapple Delight (using two of their products, Jell-O instant pistachio pudding and Cool Whip whipped topping) in 1975.

Rumor has it that after that, a Chicago food editor renamed it “Watergate Salad” to promote interest, and the name stuck. (Although both the editor and article are somehow unable to be located.)

In June 1976, the Denver Post published a recipe for Watergate Salad, supposedly dreamed up by a sous chef at the Watergate Hotel.

It’s been said that the name of this salad comes from “Watergate Cake”, which is also full of nuts.

A Scandalously Named Treat

Both the salad and cake came out during the time of the Watergate scandal in the 1970’s. Although there isn’t a direct relation between these recipes and the political scandal, one theory on the origin of the naming of these dishes makes a correlation: cover up whatever is inside and tuck it away!

This is because Watergate Salad is a mix of a bunch of things, covered, and then put in the fridge. Similarly, Watergate Cake has a “cover-up” icing and is topped with nuts.

Who knows which (if any) version is true, but they sure do make this recipe interesting! (You can read more about Watergate Salad on Delish, Serious Eats, and Wikipedia.)

More No Bake Summer Dessert Recipes to Try

Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic and #healthysweeteats on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith

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Keto Watergate Salad Recipe (12)

Keto Watergate Salad Recipe

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This nutty, creamy, and crazy delicious keto Watergate Salad recipe is a rich, flavorful pistachio cheesecake mousse with pineapple and cherries. It will transport you right back to the summer potlucks of your youth!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • ½ cup diced fresh pineapple
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 drops pure almond extract
  • 1 ½ tablespoons allulose sweetener (or sweetener of choice)
  • ¾ cup heavy whipping cream (whipped to stiff peaks)
  • ¼ cup unsalted shelled pistachios (chopped)
  • 10 fresh cherries (pitted and chopped)

Instructions

  1. Beat together the cream cheese and pineapple in a large bowl until the pineapple is crushed and the mixture is well-blended. Beat in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and sweetener.
  2. Add ¼ of the whipped cream and stir to combine. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the remaining whipped cream ¼ at a time.
  3. Gently fold in the pistachios and cherries.
  4. Cover and refrigerate until the mousse is fully chilled, at least 2 hours.
  5. Serve chilled.

Notes

  • Net Carbs: 6g per serving (⅓ cup)
  • This recipe makes about 2 cups of mousse, for a total of 6 (⅓-cup) servings.
  • Store Watergate Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note that it will stiffen slightly, but still have a mousse-like texture.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 213
  • Sugar: 4
  • Sodium: 72
  • Fat: 20
  • Saturated Fat: 11
  • Carbohydrates: 7
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 3
  • Cholesterol: 62

Keywords: Watergate Salad, Watergate Salad Recipe

This post was first published on Healthy Sweet Eats on June 21, 2018. It was updated with more information on June 10, 2021.

Keto Watergate Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Watergate salad made of? ›

Whipped topping, pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix, canned pineapple, mini marshmallows, and chopped nuts come together to create this light and fluffy American classic that's beloved by home cooks everywhere, not just in the South, but the Midwest as well.

How many calories are in Watergate salad? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
173Calories
7gFat
25gCarbs
1gProtein
Jan 18, 2024

Who created Watergate salad? ›

Kraft Corporate Affairs said: "We developed the recipe for Pistachio Pineapple Delight. It was in 1975, the same year that pistachio pudding mix came out." Kraft, however, did not refer to it as Watergate Salad until consumers started requesting the recipe for it under the name.

Why do they call it a Watergate salad? ›

Consisting of pistachio pudding, Cool Whip, nuts, and pineapple, the dish was probably never actually served at the Watergate Hotel. It is rumored to have been given its new name because of its similarity to Watergate cake, which was also bright green and made with pistachio pudding and whipped cream.

Why is it called Ambrosia salad? ›

Ambrosia was so named for the food of the Greek and Roman gods. Its region of origin is lost to history. Its ties to the South are strong, though some believe it began in Vermont or elsewhere in New England.

How many carbs are in Watergate salad? ›

Carbs in Fruit Dessert With Cream And/or Pudding And Nuts, Watergate Salad. Fruit Dessert With Cream And/or Pudding And Nuts, Watergate Salad (1 cup) contains 51.5g total carbs, 50.1g net carbs, 17.8g fat, 2.7g protein, and 361 calories.

How much sodium is in Watergate salad? ›

Calories in Watergate Salad
Calories163.1
Sodium183.3 mg
Potassium33.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate27.3 g
Dietary Fiber1.8 g
8 more rows

How many calories does Olive Garden salad have? ›

Olive Garden Salad With Signature Italian Dressing (1 Serving) contains 13g total carbs, 11g net carbs, 10g fat, 3g protein, and 150 calories.

Who invented the Jennifer Aniston salad? ›

Jennifer Aniston's Salad refers to the one she ate while at the set of FRIENDS. She says that it's a cobb salad made at the commissary that they “basically butchered.” She added more ingredients to make it tastier, basically. It's actually a salad with lots of ingredients and the flavour is incredible.

What is the Watergate cake called? ›

Watergate cake is a pistachio cake popular in the U.S. which shares its name with the Watergate scandal of the 1970s, although the name's origin is not clear. The cake pre-dates Watergate salad, a dessert made with similar ingredients including pistachio pudding.

What does Watergate stand for? ›

The term "Watergate" has since become synonymous with various clandestine and illicit activities conducted by Nixon's aides, including the bugging of political opponents' offices, unauthorized investigations, and the misuse of government agencies for political purposes.

What is a Faucon salad? ›

Xavier Faucon was a French restaurateur and reportedly an extraordinarily gifted cook. People were already trying to get his salad recipe when he retired in 1926. The salad ingredients were simple enough: iceberg lettuce, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and sometimes a tomato (though that may be a contemporary innovation).

Which famous West Coast salad is also called King of Salads? ›

Crab Louie salad, often dubbed the "king of salads," is a West Coast classic that began popping up at various area restaurants in the early 1900s. It isn't entirely clear, however, just who made the first Crab Louie or who the salad is named for.

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