Green Goddess Salad

If you're craving more veggies but want something delicious too, this green goddess salad and dressing recipe will hit the spot. Made with a fresh and flavorful mix of fresh greens, crisp veggies, and creamy dressing bursting with herbaceous flavor. This popular salad is quick and easy to make at home for a healthy lunch or as a side to dinner. Ready in 15 minutes. No cooking required.

This deliciously crunchy and creamy salad is made with mixed greens, spicy radishes, plump tomatoes, red onion, English cucumber, celery, and ripe avocados then topped with a thick, homemade dressing that's packed with flavor.

★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

Green goddess salad is a supremely fresh, vitamin-rich salad featuring a variety of fresh greens, vegetables, and herbs, topped with a creamy-cool dressing.

It's a refreshing salad for lunch or as a side to dinner that's nutritious too.

This is a two-for-one recipe.

First, the salad. It's a healthy and flavorful blend of veggies that's packed with vitamin-rich greens. Creamy avocado, refreshing cucumbers, spicy radishes, and crunchy celery layer in to add texture and flavor.

Next, there's the dressing. Green of course. Absolutely creamy and flavorful with tang from lemon, some punch from garlic and Dijon mustard, and a hint of sweetness from honey. The dressing packs even more vitamins with a healthy dose of spinach mixed with chives, fresh dill, and parsley. Olive oil, Greek yogurt, and a touch of mayo to round things out, creating a thick and creamy salad dressing that's good enough to eat by the spoonful.

What makes this salad sing is the combination of ingredients. There are quite a few, I'll be honest. But there is no cooking required, just some chopping. So this salad doesn't take long to prepare and the layers of flavor and textures are worth the chop time! The dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance.

★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

Lots of fresh ingredients! There are a few shortcuts to prepping this quickly to save time.

Here's a look at what you'll need:

The Salad

• Mixed greens. This is easy. Grab a bag of your preferred blend of mixed greens. Can include kale, spinach, or a spring blend of lettuce. All you have to do is open the bag.
• Cucumber. I love English cucumber in salads because they aren't as watery, but regular cucumbers work too. No need to peel, just chop. The skin offers more vitamins!
• Radishes. These can be sliced with a sharp knife or a mandolin.
• Tomatoes. Grape or cherry, quarter them or simply cut them in half. You could substitute with another type of tomato if you prefer or have some you need to use up.
• Shredded coleslaw mix. This adds vitamins, flavor, and crunch.
• Red onion. Thinly slice and feel free to adjust the quantity.
• Celery. This is optional but adds a nice crunch and freshness in flavor. Slice thinly for less crunch, thicker for more.

The Dressing

• Spinach. Fresh spinach is best. You could use frozen though.
• Chives. Fresh or dried both work here.
• Dill. Pinch off the stems. Fresh or dried works.
• Green onions. Cut off the roots and any dry ends and just pop the whole thing into the food processor.
• Parsley. I like to use chopped fresh parsley to save time. Or use dried.
• Plain Greek yogurt. This adds creaminess, probiotics, and protein. Kefir can also be used for a more tart flavor.
• Mayonnaise. This can be replaced with more Greek yogurt, sour cream, or avocado if desired but I do like the richness that a bit of mayo adds.
• Garlic. You can certainly use fresh cloves but I typically use garlic paste to save time.
• Dijon mustard. This layers in a burst of spice, tang, and aroma cutting through the creaminess and balancing out the greens.
• Olive oil. This adds smoothness and richness to the dressing. Avocado oil or grape seed oil could also be used.
• Salt and pepper. Sea salt or regular table salt works, freshly ground pepper adds more powerful flavor if you have it available.
• Lemon juice. You want this to be freshly squeezed. Bottled lemon juice just doesn't have the same power and you don't want to add too much and water down the dressing.
• Honey. Adjust up or down to your preferred level of sweetness.

★ How to Make this Recipe ★

The prep is simple. Blend. Chop. Combine.

Here's a look at the steps:

• Blend the dressing ingredients.
• Chop veggies for salad.
• Add dressing to salad.

Simple as that.

★ Tips & FAQs ★

Optional Toppings

You can add additional toppings such as croutons, crispy onions, crispy red pepper salad topping, crispy or fresh slice jalapeños, toasted nuts or seeds, or crumbled feta cheese for extra flavor and texture.

Can other vegetables be used in this green goddess salad?

You can add additional vegetables such as broccoli, peas, or bell peppers to suit your taste. Feel free to leave out any others you don't enjoy. The salad is totally customizable to suit your preferences.

What else could I add to the green goddess dressing?

It's a versatile dressing that's both tangy and herbaceous. To create a more savory flavor, anchovy paste or Worcestershire sauce can be added for a hint of umami.

How can I make this vegan?

If you're vegetarian or prefer not to use anchovy paste, you can substitute it with a dash of soy sauce or tamari for depth of flavor. You can also use vegan mayonnaise or yogurt for a dairy-free version. Feel free to adjust the quantities of herbs and other ingredients based on your preferences.

What protein could I add to make this a meal?

Truly, any protein can work with this salad. Grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp are great additions.

Try adding chickpeas, tofu, or plant-based meat substitutes for a vegetarian protein option.

How long does Green Goddess Dressing last in the refrigerator?

The green goddess dressing can typically last up to one week when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just give it a shake or a stir before using as the ingredients may separate slightly over time.

Is Green Goddess Salad healthy?

This green goddess salad is as good for you as it looks. It's packed with a variety of vitamins and nutrients from the fresh greens, vegetables, and herbs.

The dressing, while creamy, is made with a generous amount of Greek yogurt and light mayonnaise can be used to help reduce the calorie and fat content if desired or substituted with more Greek yogurt.

This salad is a delicious and nutritious option for those looking to eat more vegetables.

Can I customize Green Goddess Salad to my dietary preferences?

Green Goddess Salad is highly customizable. You can add or omit ingredients based on your dietary preferences or what you have on hand. It's easy to make it vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free by simply choosing ingredients that fit your dietary needs.

Where is the history of the Green Goddess Salad and Dressing?

Green Goddess salad and dressing have a history that dates back to the 1920s. The dressing was reportedly created at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco as a tribute to the hit play "The Green Goddess." Over time, it has become a classic salad dressing that's loved by many for its fresh and flavorful taste and texture.

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This Green Goddess salad was featured on South Your Mouth!