Green Goddess Salad Dressing

Looking for a dressing full of flavor and packed with superfoods? This creamy green goddess salad dressing is vegan, dairy free, and loaded with health benefits! This tangy delight is perfect on salads and other foods and can be enjoyed while on an elimination diet.

This dressing was originally created by a chef in honor of George Arliss, the main actor in a famous 1920s play. It quickly became a favorite among fans! The original recipe included ingredients such as mayonnaise, garlic oil, and fresh herbs, and sardines. 

Today, many variations of the recipe include dairy products like sour cream, yogurt, or eggs. Store bought brands also contain preservatives and fillers. If you’re following The MyersⓇ Way or other elimination protocol, you know these foods are off limits. This dairy free version allows you to still enjoy the diverse flavors while sticking to your health goals!

Dairy Free Green Goddess Dressing

As I mentioned earlier, most traditional green goddess salad dressing recipes contain dairy. However, I set out to create a vegan, dairy-free version. My recipe features coconut milk yogurt in place of dairy. It’s a delicious substitution that promotes gut and overall health!

It’s important to note that some coconut milk yogurts have more natural sweetness than others. You’ll notice my recipe suggests adding more apple cider vinegar to taste. This gives it the classic tang you’ll find in plain yogurts! Use your discretion in adding the vinegar — start with just a little and build from there.

How to Make Green Goddess Dressing

Packed with antioxidants, probiotics, and apple cider vinegar, this is a powerhouse of a dressing. Best of all, the ingredients are customizable. You can quickly and easily whip this up when you’re feeling an energy slump. It’s also great for a quick immune boost!

Let’s look at some of the ingredients in this green goddess salad dressing:

Fresh Herbs

While you’re free to experiment, some herbs work better than others. My favorites are cilantro, parsley, and basil. This combination adds the perfect dimension of flavor. If you don’t have these herbs on hand, just use what’s available. Remember, fresh is always better, and use organic varieties if you can.

Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt

To keep this recipe vegan and dairy free, I use unsweetened coconut yogurt. While you can use any dairy free yogurt you like, keep in mind that each type will have a distinct taste. This will alter the overall flavor profile. Coconut yogurt is fairly neutral, which is why it makes a great dairy free alternative. Either way, look for a yogurt option that is also free of gums and fillers. 

If it’s difficult to find quality store-bought yogurt, you can always make my recipe for homemade coconut milk yogurt. This will help ensure you’re getting an option that is free of gums and fillers. Another benefit of using this homemade recipe is the added protein and probiotics, making it healthy and delicious!

Organic Greens 

In addition to fresh herbs, this recipe includes superfood powder that adds a nutritional punch to this dressing. Loaded with powerful ingredients like spirulina and chlorella, this powder supports healthy inflammatory responses. 

My Organic Greens powder is made from 14 USDA-certified organic superfoods. It contains adaptogenic herbs like maca and ashwagandha to encourage healthy stress management. Turmeric root and ginger root work to facilitate free radical elimination. Lastly, herbs like moringa and alfalfa work with your body to balance pH levels. This promotes a more alkaline environment.

Garlic

Garlic is a classic ingredient famous for its distinct flavor. Not only does it add a nice kick to any recipe, but it offers a host of health benefits. 

This nutrient-dense vegetable provides B vitamins, Vitamin C, manganese and copper. It also contains antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it potentially beneficial for gut health concerns like SIBO or Candida overgrowth .

Using Fresh vs Dried Herbs

As with any recipe, I highly recommend fresh herbs. Using fresh herbs gives you a cleaner flavor and more bioavailable nutrients. If fresh herbs aren’t an option, however, look for organic dried herbs. Aim to buy ones that are free from citric acid, ascorbic acid, xanthan gum, and other preservatives. 

Something else to note is that dried herbs will have a different flavor, texture, and nutritional value compared to fresh.

Building The Perfect Salad To Pair

While Green Goddess Dressing goes well with many salads, I’ve put together a salad that pairs perfectly with this. This salad is a beautiful combination of dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and healthy fats!

Why did I choose this particular blend of herbs and veggies? I wanted to create a nutrient-dense salad that is both filling and delicious. Cruciferous vegetables are rich sources of glucosinolates. This compound supports healthy inflammatory responses in the body. Dark leafy greens offer fiber and antioxidants. Avocado and sunflower seeds make up healthy fats you need to help fight inflammation.

You’ll be able to whip this salad up in under 10 minutes. Make sure to buy organic ingredients when preparing this salad. 

Prep: 10 minutes:

Serving: 4-6

Salad Ingredients:

• 2 cups arugula
• 2 cups romaine 
• 1 cup broccoli, sliced
• ½ large cucumber, diced
• 1 avocado, diced
• 5-7 asparagus stems, sliced
• Optional: ½ cup green peas, ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• Green Goddess Dressing 

Salad Instructions:

• 1. Thoroughly wash all the lettuce and vegetables. Pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or use a salad spinner to remove excess water.
• 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the arugula, romaine, broccoli, avocado, asparagus and cucumber.
• 3. Drizzle the Green Goddess Dressing overtop and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
• 4. Add to your favorite salad bowl and enjoy!

More Salad Dressing Recipes You’ll Love

• There is a delicious Italian Dressing recipe used in this post for Italian Dressing Chicken! Note that this particular recipe is not AIP friendly. To make it AIP friendly, simply leave out the honey.
• If you’re looking for a dairy free version of a classic, look no further than this Paleo Ranch Dressing.
• If you’re a sweet dressing fan, this Strawberry Dressing is superb!
• In the past, I was a fan of soy based dressings, so I sought out to make a soy-free version. I included the recipe in this post for Deconstructed Vegetable Spring Rolls.