by Alyssa Rivers
It has been warming up around these parts! And I am not sure how much more my preggo cankles can take. 🙂  My feet are so swollen and they are getting worse as the days get hotter. I feel like my life has been so busy trying to get ready for this princess to get here. I am so excited and I can’t believe it is just a little over a week until she gets here!
You know what comes with warmer weather right? Barbecues!! It is my favorite time of the year and I absolutely love grilling season. We had our first real family BBQ on Sunday. This pistachio pudding salad has been apart of my family for years. My mom would take it everywhere when I was little. I think you could go to any family reunion in Utah and this salad is guaranteed to be there. But it is amazing! It is so delicious and creamy and the flavors combined are awesome. It makes such a cool summer dessert. If you give it a try it will become a favorite in your house as well!
Pistachio Pudding Salad
A cool and delicious pistachio dessert that will be a hit at any gathering!
Ingredients
- 1 can crushed pineapple 20 oz., drained
- 1 package instant pistachio pudding 3 oz.
- 1 container whipped topping 8 oz., thawed
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup pistachios chopped for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the crushed pineapple and pistachio pudding mix. Fold in the whipped topping and marshmallows.
- Garnish with crushed pistachios and enjoy!
Do you make the pudding or just stir the powdered mix into the whipped topping?
Just the powder, & if you want to make a lighter version, I use fat free/lite cool whip with diet instant pudding. I also use crushed pecans instead. Delicious!
thank you. I was looking for the same answer to the pudding, mix or just add dry.
My mom used to make this pudding all the time when I was a kid! It’s also known as Watergate Salad because it became popular in the 1970’s at the Watergate Hotel 🙂
I remember this from my childhood either from my mom or a church potluck. Thanks for the recipe. We have a BBQ at our home next Saturday and just maybe this will be on the table.
My mom also made ambrosia which is another favorite of mine.
Happy long weekend!!
Thank you for the nice salad.
I love this recipe. I use one like this from a church cookbook I have that my mother-in-law gave me a few years ago. I don’t make it often though since I am the only one of 5 in my family that eats it. Better to make it when I have company. Pinning this.
🙂 This is my family’s required salad at Christmas – we just call it Christmas Salad! Mom made it for years and years and years! And with her gone, we take turns making it each year. Any possible left overs are gone in a day!!
I make this for every family get together. Our family just calls it green s@#t. LOL because one time someone couldn’t remember what it was called and called it that. Never enough left overs for more than a snack. We also add coconut to ours.
Alyssa,
Thanks for the Pistachio Pudding Salad. Your recipe reads and sounds like what our mother made for us for years. And we look forward to trying your other items as well!
Do I need to make the pudding first or do I just use the powder? Stupid question I know but it doesn’t say…
No, you will just use the powder. That is a great question and good to know for this recipe. Thanks for following along with me! XOXO
Can this be done the night before for a luncheon do you think it would store well?
Yes, just leave it in the fridge over night. Enjoy! XOXO
Can you use regular pistachio pudding instead of instant for Watergate salad?
Yes, that will be great.
Making this for a church luncheon tomorrow and had the same question about using the pudding mix dry. I searched the website and found yours, and then discovered others had asked the same question. I’m good to go now! Thanks for resolving the question! I was hoping to put this in a 9×13 pan – hope it works.