Green Goddess Salad Recipe

Refreshing Green Goddess Salad Recipe for Summer Bliss

Fresh, crisp greens dance with vibrant flavors in this green goddess salad recipe that elevates your lunch game.

Packed with herbs and zesty dressing, the dish brings a burst of color to your plate.

Each bite promises a delightful blend of textures and tastes.

The greens mix creates a harmonious symphony of nutrients and freshness.

Creamy, tangy dressing coats the salad with irresistible charm.

You’ll fall in love with this simple yet sophisticated recipe that transforms ordinary greens into a culinary masterpiece.

Why Green Goddess Salad Is So Fresh

  • Whip Up Quick Nutrition: This vibrant salad packs a powerful punch of fresh vegetables and nutrient-dense green ingredients, delivering maximum health benefits in minimal preparation time.
  • Celebrate Plant-Based Deliciousness: Perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone craving a light, refreshing meal that bursts with flavor and wholesome ingredients without sacrificing taste.
  • Customize with Ease: Flexible recipe allows simple ingredient swaps or additions, making it adaptable for different dietary preferences, lunch needs, or spontaneous meal creativity.
  • Boost Wellness Instantly: Loaded with leafy greens, herbs, and avocado, this salad provides a natural way to increase daily vegetable intake while enjoying a deliciously satisfying meal.

What Goes Into Green Goddess Salad

Salad Base:
  • Cabbage: A crisp and crunchy foundation for the green goddess salad.
  • Cucumber: Adds a refreshing and light texture to the dish.
  • Green Onions: Provides a mild, sharp flavor and additional green color.
Dressing Greens:
  • Chives: Brings a delicate onion-like flavor to the creamy dressing.
  • Basil: Contributes a sweet and peppery herb essence.
  • Spinach: Adds nutritional value and vibrant green color to the dressing.
Dressing Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Rice Vinegar: Create a tangy and smooth base for the dressing.
  • Garlic, Shallot: Provide depth and aromatic complexity to the dressing.
  • Nutritional Yeast: Offers a cheesy and nutty flavor profile.
  • Avocado: Adds creaminess and richness to the dressing.
  • Salt: Enhances and balances the overall flavor of the salad.

Assembling a Crisp Green Goddess Salad

Step 1: Prepare Veggie Base

Grab your cutting board and sharp knife.

Chop the cabbage into delicate, whisper-thin pieces.

Slice the cucumber into crisp, elegant slivers.

Mince the green onions into tiny, fragrant rings.

Tumble all these fresh ingredients into a spacious mixing bowl.

Step 2: Craft Vibrant Goddess Dressing

Pull out your blender and start adding the magical ingredients:
  • Fresh chives
  • Verdant basil leaves
  • Tender spinach
  • Rich olive oil
  • Zesty lemon juice
  • Tangy rice vinegar
  • Aromatic garlic
  • Delicate shallot
  • Nutty nutritional yeast
  • Creamy avocado
  • Sea salt

Blitz everything until the mixture transforms into a silky, emerald-green elixir that gleams with pure plant-powered goodness.

Step 3: Combine and Celebrate

Stream the luscious green dressing over your chopped vegetables.

Use salad tongs or two large spoons to gently toss and coat every single morsel.

Ensure each piece gets a luxurious bath in the vibrant, herbaceous sauce.

Your salad is now a celebration of freshness and flavor, ready to dazzle taste buds and nourish bodies.

Tips for the Best Tasting Green Goddess Salad

  • Use a sharp knife to create uniform, small pieces for even texture and better dressing distribution.
  • Ensure all herbs are fresh and vibrant to maximize the green goddess dressing's flavor and nutritional punch.
  • Add more olive oil or a splash of water if the dressing feels too thick, creating a perfect pour-over texture.
  • Sprinkle hemp seeds, toasted nuts, or chickpeas on top to transform this salad into a complete meal.
  • Let the salad rest for 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld and dressing to absorb into vegetables.

Green Goddess Salad Twists to Try

  • Keto Friendly Swap: Replace cabbage with mixed low-carb greens like arugula and replace rice vinegar with apple cider vinegar for a ketogenic-friendly version.
  • Mediterranean Herb Variation: Substitute spinach with parsley, add oregano, and use feta cheese instead of nutritional yeast for a Mediterranean-inspired green goddess salad.
  • Protein Boost Option: Mix in grilled chicken, chickpeas, or tofu cubes to transform the salad into a complete meal with added protein and texture.
  • Vegan Protein Alternative: Incorporate hemp seeds or quinoa to enhance protein content while maintaining the plant-based profile of the original recipe.

Serving Suggestions for Green Goddess Salad

  • Crisp Protein Topper: Sprinkle grilled chicken strips or crumbled tofu for a protein-packed meal that adds satisfying texture and nutrition.
  • Crunchy Seed Boost: Scatter toasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or hemp hearts on top to introduce a delightful crunch and nutty flavor profile.
  • Wrap Wonder: Scoop the salad into large lettuce leaves or whole wheat tortillas for a refreshing handheld lunch option that's easy to transport and enjoy.
  • Mediterranean Twist: Add kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and diced cherry tomatoes to transform the salad into a Mediterranean-inspired dish with vibrant flavors.

Storing Leftover Green Goddess Salad

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. Keep dressing and salad separate to prevent wilting.
  • Pour green goddess sauce into ice cube trays, freeze, then transfer frozen cubes to a freezer bag. Use within 1 month.
  • Before serving chilled leftovers, drain excess liquid and give the salad a quick toss to revive crispness.
  • Add fresh chopped herbs or a sprinkle of toasted seeds right before serving to restore crunch and brightness.

FAQs

  • What makes the green goddess dressing creamy?

The avocado provides a smooth, creamy texture without using dairy, creating a rich and velvety dressing that coats the vegetables perfectly.

  • Is this salad healthy?

Absolutely! It’s packed with nutrients from fresh vegetables, herbs, and nutrient-dense ingredients like spinach, chives, and nutritional yeast, making it a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.

  • Can I make the dressing ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the green goddess dressing up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just give it a good stir before using.

  • Is this salad suitable for special diets?

The recipe is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and can be easily adapted for various dietary needs, making it a versatile and inclusive dish for many people.

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Green Goddess Salad Recipe

Green Goddess Salad Recipe


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4.6 from 19 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Green goddess magic elevates simple ingredients into a refreshing culinary masterpiece that celebrates fresh herbs and crisp textures. Creamy dressing and crunchy toppings merge for a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Salad Base:

  • 1 small head green cabbage, finely chopped
  • 1 cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chives
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup spinach

Dressing Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (or parmesan)

Aromatics:

  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 small shallot

Instructions

  1. Prepare the crisp foundation by meticulously slicing cabbage, cucumber, and green onions into uniform, delicate pieces and transfer to a spacious mixing vessel.
  2. Craft the vibrant green goddess dressing by introducing chives, basil, spinach, olive oil, lemon juice, rice vinegar, garlic, shallot, nutritional yeast, avocado, and salt into a blender.
  3. Pulse and blend the ingredients until achieving a silky, emerald-hued sauce with a completely smooth consistency.
  4. Generously cascade the verdant dressing over the chopped vegetables, ensuring each fragment is luxuriously coated by gently tossing the salad with a sweeping motion.
  5. Allow the salad to rest for 3-5 minutes, permitting the ingredients to meld and the flavors to harmonize before serving at room temperature.

Notes

  • Choose crisp, fresh vegetables for the best texture and vibrant green color in your salad.
  • Use a sharp knife to chop vegetables uniformly, ensuring even distribution of flavors and a professional look.
  • Adjust the dressing’s thickness by adding more olive oil or a splash of water if it’s too dense.
  • Prepare the salad just before serving to maintain the crunchiness of the vegetables and prevent wilting.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Natalie Brooks

Natalie Brooks

Co-Founder & Content Strategist

Expertise

  • Vegan and plant-based recipe creation
  • Meal planning and nutritional analysis
  • Storytelling through blog content, video, and social media

Education

eCornell

  • Program: Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate
  • Focus: Whole-food, plant-based cooking, with a foundation in nutritional science and sustainable eating habits.

Natalie brings the vibrant, plant-powered side to Culinary Duo. After earning her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from eCornell, she combined her love for fresh ingredients with a passion for storytelling, aiming to make healthy cooking simple and satisfying.
Her kitchen motto: good food doesn’t need a fancy label, it just needs fresh ideas and a little creativity. Outside of writing and recipe testing, Natalie’s happiest in her garden, exploring farmers’ markets, or mixing global flavors into new kitchen experiments.

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