Black Cherry Salad is a retro-style gelatin salad blending sweet and savory elements. Popular during the mid-20th century, this dish features Bing cherries, orange gelatin, chopped pecans, and a surprising savory twist, sliced stuffed olives. The sweet-tart balance of cherries and citrusy lemon juice with the richness of pecans and briny olives makes this salad a uniquely nostalgic side. Often served on lettuce with a dollop of mayonnaise, it represents the era’s creativity in combining fruit, nuts, and unexpected ingredients for buffet tables, holiday meals, or luncheons.
Ingredients
- 3½ cups pitted Bing cherries
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- 3 oz orange-flavored gelatin
- ¾ cup pecans (chopped )
- 3 oz stuffed green olives (sliced)
- Water
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Liquid Base
- Drain cherries, reserving the syrup.
- Add water and lemon juice to the cherry syrup to make a total of 1¾ cups liquid.
Step 2: Dissolve Gelatin
- Heat the combined liquid until hot.
- Pour over orange gelatin powder and stir until fully dissolved.
Step 3: Add Ingredients
- Chill gelatin mixture until partially set.
- Stir in cherries, chopped pecans, and sliced olives.
Step 4: Mold and Chill
- Pour mixture into individual molds or shallow serving pans.
- Chill until completely firm, about 3 hours.
Step 5: Serve
- Serve on lettuce leaves with a dollop of mayonnaise, if desired.
Tips
- Swap Bing cherries for dark sweet cherries if canned Bing is unavailable.
- Replace orange gelatin with cherry or black cherry gelatin for deeper flavor.
- Omit the olives for a more traditional sweet gelatin salad.
- Add diced celery for extra crunch, common in mid-century salads.
- Fold in whipped cream or Cool Whip before chilling for a fluff-style salad.
- Use walnut pieces instead of pecans for a stronger nutty note.
- Serve in a ring mold with mayonnaise or whipped salad dressing in the center.
- Turn into a dessert by replacing lemon juice/water with cherry juice or soda.
- Add mini marshmallows for a sweeter, softer texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 160mgPotassium: 140mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 0.7mg
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