Watergate salad, also referred to as Pistachio Delight,[1] is a sweet-tasting dessert salad made from pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, Cool Whip, and marshmallows.[2] It is very quick to prepare: the ingredients are combined and it can be chilled, if desired.[3]
The canned fruit used is usually pineapple, but can be a fruit cocktail and/or mandarin oranges. Mini-marshmallows and cottage cheese are also used, and there are many slight variations with additional ingredients. Watergate salad is similar to ambrosia salad. It is a popular dish in the Upper Midwest and other areas where potlucks are popular.
The origin of the name “Watergate salad” is obscure. 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, didn't refer to it as Watergate Salad until consumers started requesting the recipe for it under the name. "According to Kraft Kitchens, when the recipe for Pistachio Pineapple Delight was sent out, an unnamed Chicago food editor renamed it Watergate Salad to promote interest in the recipe when she printed it in her column." Neither the article nor editor has been tracked down, however.