Green Goddess Salad Dressing

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This is a green goddess dressing recipe I took from our family cookbook which goes back to the late 1800s. There are many different recipes for green goddess dressing and it seems to be all the rage these days. This recipe was added to the cookbook in the 70s and it's still one of the best I've had.

Green Goddess dressing being mixed into a green salad.

About this recipe.

So this green goddess dressing has a bit of history. My parents used to serve it at family gatherings in the summer and the recipe was pretty much as it is here.

I did change it a little and added fresh coriander (cilantro). This is an delicious and bold dressing that is not only good on a salad. You could use it as a dip or even stir it into pasta to make an amazing pasta salad.

It's not a light version like you see all over the internet now. Instead, this green goddess dressing is just like it was way back then with sour cream and mayonnaise playing a very important roll.

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About this recipe.
Ingredients
Instructions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Top Tip
FAQ
Related
Pairing
Recipe

Ingredients

The ingredients for this green goddess dressing are simple. You can find them at any supermarket. Just get them all together before you start and blend them all together.

mayonnaise
sour cream
anchovy
spring onions
garlic
lemon juice
white wine vinegar
fresh parsley
fresh coriander or more parsely
salt and pepper to taste

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Check out these step by step photos and you will see in an instant how easy it is to make a green goddess dressing!

All of the ingredients in a blender ready to blend.

Step 1: Place all of the ingredients in a blender.

Blending the salad dressing ingredients together in a blender.

Step 2: Blend until creamy and smooth.

Pouring the green goddess salad dressing through a funnel into a bottle.

Step 3: I prefer to pour mine into a bottle as this recipe makes enough for 2 to 3 salads. You could just store it in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Green goddess salad dressing in a pouring bottle.

Step 4: It's all ready to use though I do recommend chilling your green goddess dressing in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before using.

Variations

Giving the visitor ideas on how they can change this recipe to better suit their dinner guests, or their cultural cuisine, is a great way to increase the chances they make the recipe

Sour cream and mayonnaise: There are many newer green goddess dressing recipes that use only yoghurt which is lighter and still tastes good. Some recipes call for a little avocado to thicken and colour the yoghurt versions.
Anchovies: Most green goddess dressing recipes call for anchovies. If you're not a fan, you can leave them out. You can add more salt to taste to make up for the salty flavour from the anchovies.
Herbs: - I use both parsley and coriander (cilantro). You can use one or the other or even add additional green herbs such as tarragon or basil in moderation and to taste.

Equipment

A good blender: This dressing needs to be creamy smooth and that's something you can only do with a blender.

Bottle and funnel: I like to have a variety of salad dressings on hand. Get yourself some good bottles and a funnel for easy storing.

Storage

You can store your green goddess dressing, covered tightly in the fridge for at least 4 to 5 days. Shake or whisk it some before serving.

I don't recommend freezing this dressing. Is that stating the obvious?

Top Tip

This dressing is delicious used as a salad dressing. Consider placing your plates and forks in the freezer for an hour. The chilled plates and forks will make the salad even more enjoyable.

FAQ

What herbs can you use in Green Goddess dressing?

This is a herby dressing and you can use what sounds good. The most popular options are parsley and coriander (cilantro) but you might want to consider adding a little basil, dill or tarragon to taste.

What can you use green goddess dressing for?

It's not just for salads! Try it as a sandwich spread, a dip for vegetables and crackers and even stirred into pasta.

Can you make this dressing without anchovies?

Yes! If you aren't a fan of anchovies, you could try adding a little more salt or adding capers, Worcestershire sauce or miso paste to give it that famous umami flavour.

Looking for other dressing recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

This green goddess dressing is delicious tossed into a salad and served as a side dish with these...

Recipe