This Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado is the perfect dressing if you are looking for a ton of flavor and nutrition. Plus, it's a great way to use up extra herbs! A combination of Avocado and Greek yogurt make this recipe so creamy and fresh herbs, lemon juice, and garlic add the most amazing flavor. Just a few ingredients, 5 minutes, and a food processor or blender are the only things standing between you and this delicious recipe. 😊
As a dietitian who does a lot of recipe testing and cooking, I always seem to have leftover herbs in my fridge so I wanted to find a way to use them up. This avocado green goddess dressing has quickly become one of my all-time favorites! It is SO flavorful and one of the things I love is that it's a super versatile dressing. You can use it in so many different ways - on salads, grain bowls, pasta, or as a dip for your favorite veggies or crackers.
While I've maintained the fresh herbs found in most Green Goddess dressing recipes, I've changed up some of the other ingredients to put a unique spin on it! I hope you enjoy my version of green goddess dressing as much as I do! 😊
This recipe was inspired by my Green Sauce for Pasta, another easy and unique way to get in your greens. If you want to turn it into a meal, make a Green Goddess Chicken Salad Wrap. It also pairs well with roasted veggies or a Tuna Wrap.
Jump to:
- Video of How to Make Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado
- Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- How to Make Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado
- Variations
- Equipment
- How to Serve Green Goddess Dressing
- Storage for Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Expert Advice
- Dietitian tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Perfect for Pairing
- Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Video of How to Make Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado
Here is a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful! Be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full recipe.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This Green Goddess Dressing Recipe with Avocado uses simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the recipe card for exact ingredient measurements.
- Avocado - using a fresh avocado is an easy way to give this dressing a creamy texture. Avocados contain nearly 20 nutrients including dietary fiber to support gut health, heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, and antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E.
- Greek Yogurt - we are using Greek yogurt in place of sour cream & mayo found in the original recipe to cut back on saturated fats. It also adds protein and probiotics. I use nonfat Greek yogurt for this recipe, but you can use any fat content you prefer. Substitutes for Greek yogurt here are cottage cheese or plant-based yogurt.
- Lemon Juice - freshly squeezed lemon juice adds brightness and enhances the other flavors. It also adds vitamin C. 😊
- Parsley - fresh parsley adds a clean and earthy flavor and antioxidants. Win-win!
- Dill - dill has a citrusy grassy flavor similar to tarragon which is used in some green goddess recipes. You can substitute with either tarragon or basil if you'd like, but I think fresh dill pairs so nicely with the other fresh herbs and lemon juice. Dill contains vitamins C and A and manganese.
- Mint - fresh mint adds a cooling effect and it tastes so refreshing in this creamy avocado dressing! Mint can also soothe digestive issues and help support a healthy gut.
- Spinach - baby spinach adds sweetness and nutrients like antioxidants, iron, and vitamins C and K. You can substitute with kale or other greens if you want.
- Garlic - raw garlic adds a ton of flavor to this green dressing. The fresh garlic clove also adds allicin, a powerful antioxidant.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - extra virgin olive oil has a robust flavor and heart-healthy fats that are also important for brain health and hormone health. You can substitute with avocado oil if you like a more mild flavor.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper - just a little salt and pepper to tie all the flavors together. You can use sea salt if you prefer.
- Water - a little water is optional to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- Optional: feel free to add more leafy herbs if you'd like! Fresh cilantro, fresh basil, or tarragon would all make great additions.
How to Make Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado
Below are the instructions for how to make Avocado Green Goddess Dressing with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1 - Slice the avocado in half and remove the skin and pit. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding cold water to thin it out as needed.
- Step 2 - Give it a taste and add more salt or lemon juice as needed.
Hint: If you want to use it as a salad dressing, make it a little thinner by adding a tablespoon or two of cold water. If you will be using it as a thicker dip, no need to thin it out!
Variations
One of the great things about making your own salad dressing is you can customize it to your liking. Below are some suggestions for variations of this Green Goddess recipe, but feel free to get creative and put your own spin on it.
- Spicy - crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce are all a perfect addition to add some heat!
- Deluxe - use green onions, red onion or anchovy paste to add even more flavor.
- Vegan Version - use plain vegan yogurt or replace it with cashew cream to make this recipe vegan.
- Zesty - if you want to add a bit more zest, add some apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or fresh lime juice.
Equipment
All you need to make this Green Goddess Dressing is either a food processor or a high-speed blender. I have a Ninja Blender and love it, but I usually use my handy and beloved KitchenAid food processor for this recipe.
How to Serve Green Goddess Dressing
- Chicken Salad - Double up the recipe and turn it into a Green Goddess Chicken Salad using rotisserie chicken. Add it to a wrap with romaine lettuce, and your favorite tortilla or flatbread.
- In Grain Bowls - use this dressing next time you make a grain bowl. Add brown rice or quinoa, leafy greens, pickled red onion or shallot, cucumber, green goddess dressing, and your favorite protein to a big bowl and dig in!
- As a Dipping Sauce - serve green goddess dip as a snack or appetizer with raw veggies, seed crackers or tortilla chips. You can even serve it with sweet potato fries or sweet potato cubes.
- On Your Favorite Salads - pour a Tablespoon or two over your favorite green salad. Green Goddess Dressing goes great with crunchy romaine lettuce, other chopped salads or on a spinach salad with strawberry and almonds, or kale salads.
- Pasta Salad- use Green Goddess dressing in a pasta salad with asparagus and green peas.
- Potato Salad - add this dressing in place of mayo in your next potato salad! It adds so much flavor AND extra nutrition.
- Over Roasted Vegetables - drizzle a couple of Tablespoons on top of warm roasted veggies like these Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots. Brussels sprouts, potatoes, or other root vegetables go great with this dressing too.
Storage for Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Refrigerator - store Green Goddess Salad Dressing in an airtight container like a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
To thin it back out, add a touch of olive oil or water and give it a stir.
Expert Advice
- For best flavor, I suggest using fresh lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice for this recipe if possible.
- Be sure to use a ripe avocado. To tell if it's ripe, use these simple tips from Hass Avocado Board (HAB): give it a gentle squeeze and if it is slightly soft, it is ready to use! You don't want it to be mushy and not hard, either. Ripe avocados will have a darker color but HAB recommends to go more by the feel AND color than the color alone.
Dietitian tip
Making homemade salad dressing recipes can feel intimidating! But it's as easy as blending a few ingredients. Not only does making dressing at home taste amazingly fresh, it also gives you more control over the ingredients and the flavor. And while store-bought dressings have preservatives, there's no need for that with a simple homemade dressing. 😊
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado is a nutrient-rich option. It contains several herbs that provide antioxidants and vitamins C, A, and K. It also contains heart-healthy olive oil that also supports brain health and hormone health. This recipe also calls for avocado and spinach, both of which provide dietary fiber for gut health. And the Greek yogurt provides protein, calcium, and phosphorus. This recipe is also vegetarian, gluten-free, and does not contain added sugars.
I have not frozen green goddess dressing myself because I always eat it quickly. But from what I have read, you can freeze it. To do so, put it in the freezer in either a freezer safe ziplock bag or another freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze it for up to 2 months. To thaw, put it in the refrigerator overnight or run warm water over it. To get it back to the consistency you like, add a bit of olive oil and stir it.
This green goddess dressing is herbaceous, tangy, and creamy. It is very flavorful and the fresh herbs and lemon shine through. It has a refreshing taste and is surprisingly smooth!
From what I've read, the original green goddess dressing was served at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco in the 1920s and was created by Chef Philip Roemer. The main ingredients were green herbs, anchovies, and a mix of mayo and sour cream.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado:
Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
Here are some nutrition education articles from a dietitian:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Green Goddess Dressing with Avocado (Creamy)
Equipment
- 1 food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 medium avocado (150g)
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt (non-fat) or yogurt of choice (228g)
- 1 cup fresh parsley (25g)
- ½ cup fresh dill (4g)
- ½ cup fresh mint (12g)
- 1 cup baby spinach (28g)
- ⅓ cup lemon juice (80ml) about 1½ large lemons
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (30ml)
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt more to taste (3g)
- black pepper to taste
- 1-2 tablespoon water optional to thin it out
Instructions
- Slice the avocado in half and remove the skin and pit. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding up to 1 tablespoon of cold water to thin it out if needed.
- Give it a taste and add more salt or lemon juice if you want.
- Hint: If you're using it as a salad dressing, make it a little thinner by adding the bit of cold water. If you will be using it as a thicker dip, no need to thin it out!
Video
Notes
- For best flavor, I suggest using fresh lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice for this recipe if possible.
- Be sure to use a ripe avocado. To tell if it's ripe, use these simple tips from Hass Avocado Board (HAB): give it a gentle squeeze and if it is slightly soft, it is ready to use! You don't want it to be mushy and not hard, either. Ripe avocados will have a darker color but HAB recommends to go more by the feel AND color than the color alone.
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