Easy 5-Minute Green Goddess Dressing • Heartbeet Kitchen (2024)

I love developing quick, homemade salad dressing recipes. Having a jar in the refrigerator each week helps me eat more greens! And it can be a great addition to other meals like sandwiches or tacos.

My 5-Minute Vegan Dressing is a huge reader favorite, and this vibrantly colored Green Goddess Dressing is the newest on the site! It’s bursting with freshness from a bundle of herbs (a great use for overflow in your summer garden), a punch of white wine vinegar, lemon, and garlic.

What does green goddess dressing taste like?

Green goddess dressing has a distinctive and robust flavor profile. It is creamy and tangy, with a refreshing and herbaceous taste. Besides using it on salads, it is a great dipping sauce for Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill and Sheetpan Chicken Fajitas! The specific flavors can vary slightly depending on the recipe and ingredients used, but here’s what you’ll find in mine:

1. Herbs: Known for its prominent herb flavors, tender bunches of parsley, chives, and basil are the stars of this beautiful green dressing. You’ll often see tarragon in recipes, but I never have it on hand so I developed the recipe without it. These herbs contribute a fresh taste that adds depth.
2. Creaminess: The base of sour cream and mayonaise provides a creamy and rich texture to the dressing. This creamy element helps balance the tanginess of the dressing and creates a smooth mouthfeel.
3. Tanginess: To balance the creaminess, I used white wine vinegar and a bit of lemon juice to add bright and zesty flavor.
4. Garlic: Garlic provides a pungent and savory note. It adds a touch of sharpness to the overall flavor profile.

How to Make Homemade Green Goddess Dressing in 5 Minutes:

1. Finely chop your herbs and garlic.
2. Add to a small blender jar or food processor, along with all other ingredients.
3. Blend until smooth and cohesive. That’s it!

Here are 5 salad ideas that work well with Green Goddess dressing!

1. Classic Cobb Salad: A Cobb salad typically consists of mixed greens, grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, bacon, tomatoes, and blue cheese. The creamy and herbaceous Green Goddess dressing complements the ingredients beautifully.
2. Mediterranean Salad: Create a refreshing Mediterranean-inspired salad with a mix of crisp romaine lettuce, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onions, feta cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh dill. The Green Goddess dressing adds a zesty twist to this combination.
3. Grilled Chicken Salad: Grill some marinated chicken breast and slice it over a bed of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, and sliced bell peppers. Pour the Green Goddess dressing over the top for a creamy and tangy finish.
4. Shrimp and Avocado Salad: Toss together cooked shrimp, diced avocado, mixed greens, sliced cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onions. The Green Goddess dressing adds a vibrant flavor to this seafood salad.
5. Roasted Vegetable Salad: Roast a combination of vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes. Once they are cooked and slightly cooled, toss them with mixed greens, crumbled goat cheese, and toasted pine nuts. Drizzle the Green Goddess dressing over the salad for a burst of flavor.

Remember, the beauty of salads is their versatility, so feel free to customize these suggestions by adding or substituting ingredients based on your preferences. Enjoy experimenting with different combinations and discovering your favorite Green Goddess dressing pairings!

Why is it called Green Goddess Dressing?

The name “Green Goddess dressing” is believed to have originated from its vibrant green color, which resembles the green robes worn by statues of the goddesses in ancient mythology. An early 20th century play featured a character named “The Green Goddess”, who was associated with nature and fertility and the dressing’s green hue and fresh flavors may have evoked similar associations.

The dressing gained popularity in the 1920s when it was introduced at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. The hotel’s executive chef, Philip Roemer, created the dressing and it became a hit among patrons. The name “Green Goddess dressing” stuck and has been used ever since to describe this particular dressing.

How long does this dressing last in the fridge?

Another reason I love this salad dressing is because it lasts 5-7 days in the refrigerator, so you can have fresh, flavorful salads in an instant! I like to store it in a glass jar and stir or shake before using. The dressing gets even better with time as the flavors mingle and deepen.

More Salad Dressing Recipes:

• Quick Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
• Ginger White Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Southwest Salad Dressing