Green Goddess Salad combines crisp gem lettuce with a creamy, herb-infused dressing and garlicky toasted breadcrumbs. Enjoy this refreshing salad as a lunch or hearty side dish, and easily make it vegan with a few simple swaps.
For more delicious salad recipes, try my Tomato Lentil Salad with Feta and Little Gem Wedge Salad with Miso Ranch next.
This content contains affiliate links which helps WhisperofYum.com to provide free recipes. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for support of the blog, Whisper of Yum!
This green goddess salad is my version of the viral TikTok recipe. The luscious, smooth dressing, made in a blender, is so delicious you might find yourself eating it by the spoonful! The combination of fresh herbs, salty feta, and briny capers creates a mouthwatering flavor you’ll want to put on everything (and you totally should).
But I take the salad to new heights by adding finely crumbled focaccia breadcrumbs toasted with garlic. It creates an unexpected and irresistible, savory crunch. I think you just found your new favorite salad!
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy Prep – This salad takes just minutes to prepare but you can also make the dressing in advance to make it even faster.
- A Classic With a Twist – While it’s seeing a resurgence on TikTok, green goddess salad has been around since the 20s. Best believe it’s popular for a reason!
- Customizable – There are so many versions of this salad and dressing (Trader Joe’s, Panera Bread, Costco, etc.), and this recipe is just one—albeit the best. Whether you have a dietary need or preference in flavor, I’ll help you customize this recipe to your liking.
Tools You’ll Need
Ingredients You Will Need for Green Goddess Salad
Here is a breakdown of what you will need to make this salad and dressing. For actual measurements, see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Fresh Herbs – For this recipe, we’re using a vibrant mix of basil, dill, cilantro, chives, mint, and Italian parsley. I’d describe this herbaceous blend as citrusy, tangy, cool, earthy, and refreshing.
- Jalapeño – This adds a subtle kick of heat, balancing the creamy dressing with a slight spiciness.
- Cloves garlic – Garlic brings a pungent, savory depth to the dressing.
- Sheep’s feta – Drained sheep’s feta offers a creamy, tangy richness that complements the fresh herbs. Use whole feta and not crumbled. Crumbled feta gets too dry.
- Anchovy – Draining the oil from the anchovy ensures a concentrated burst of umami, adding complexity to the dressing.
- Greek yogurt – Full-fat Greek yogurt provides a creamy, tangy base that enhances the texture.
- Quality mayonnaise – Using Duke’s or Hellman’s adds a rich, creamy consistency to the dressing, binding all the flavors together.
- Lemon – Both the juice and zest of the lemon add a fresh pop of acidity, brightening up the dressing and balancing the richness of the other ingredients.
- Quality olive oil – This healthy fat enriches the dressing, adding a silky texture and a hint of fruitiness.
- Water – A small amount of water ensures the mixture isn’t too thick or heavy, giving the dressing the perfect pourable consistency.
- Capers – Drained capers add a salty, briny quality to the mix.
- Seasoning – I keep it simple with freshly cracked black pepper and kosher salt.
Salad
- Little gem lettuce – This lettuce forms the crisp, tender base of our salad. It has a subtle sweetness with a nutty flavor. It pairs well with the creamy dressing.
- Sheep’s feta cheese – Creamy, tangy feta complements the other ingredients. This is an optional topping but adds to the richness of the salad.
- Freshly cracked black pepper – This touch of spice enhances the overall taste.
Focaccia Breadcrumbs
- Focaccia breadcrumbs – Finely crumbled focaccia breadcrumbs (or panko) provide a crunchy texture, adding a satisfying contrast to the creamy and tender elements of the salad.
- Salted butter – Finely crumbled focaccia breadcrumbs (or panko) provide a crunchy texture, adding a satisfying contrast to the creamy and tender elements of the salad.
- Fresh garlic – Microplaned garlic infuses the breadcrumbs with a fragrant, aromatic quality that enhances their savory taste.
- Kosher salt – Add to taste.
How To Make Green Goddess Salad
Below is a summary of how to make green goddess salad and dressing. For a complete and detailed list of steps, see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Green Goddess Dressing
- Add all dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Place extra in a refrigerator-safe container.
Focaccia Breadcrumbs
- In a skillet over medium heat, add butter. Once melted, add grated garlic and cook until fragrant, about minute (do not brown garlic.) Add breadcrumbs and cook for 2-3 minutes or until toasted and crispy. Stir in salt then set aside.
Assemble
- Assemble little gem lettuce in a bowl then pour desired amount of dressing and breadcrumbs. Finish with freshly cracked black pepper.
Tips and Tricks
- Carefully toast breadcrumbs. When toasting the focaccia breadcrumbs with butter and garlic, keep a close eye to prevent the garlic from burning. This will ensure the breadcrumbs are perfectly crispy and fragrant without any bitter taste.
- Add the dressing to your green goddess salad just before serving. Otherwise, you’ll have a soggy salad.
- Layer the salad components strategically. Start with the dressed lettuce at the bottom, then add the feta and other toppings, finishing with the toasted breadcrumbs. This ensures that the lettuce stays crisp and the breadcrumbs remain crunchy until the very last bite.
- Make the dressing in advance. Store it in a mason jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Variations
- Vegan – Swap the feta in the dressing for nutritional yeast, omit the anchovies, and use ripe avocados instead of Greek yogurt and mayo.
- Salad – Instead of little gem lettuce, you can experiment with other lettuces or green vegetables. Try any combination of butter lettuce, romaine, arugula, spinach, cabbage, cucumbers, microgreens, or edamame.
- Toppings – For added crunch and flavor, consider topping your salad with crushed pistachios or walnuts. To keep it nut-free, you could top with sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead. Roasted chickpeas would add a nice crunch too.
- Add Protein – For a heartier salad, add sliced grilled chicken, shrimp, bacon bits, or a hard-boiled egg.
How to Serve Green Goddess Dressing
While I love this on salad, there are so many ways to use green goddess dressing.
- Dip – Grab some veggie sticks or tortilla chips and dig in for a quick and easy snack.
- Spread – Add this to a sandwich or wrap to give it an extra kick of flavor.
- Sauce – Drizzle this over tacos and rice bowls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called green goddess salad?
The salad was invented by Chef Phillip Roemer at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel in 1923. The chef crafted the salad as a tribute to actor George Arlis, who starred in the play The Green Goddess. However, I like to think the dish got its name due to its monochromatic hue and how it makes you feel after a hearty serving!
What does green goddess taste like?
Green goddess dressing has a vibrant, herbaceous flavor with a creamy, tangy undertone. The combination of fresh herbs like basil, dill, and cilantro, along with the salty feta and a hint of heat from the jalapeño, creates a rich and refreshing taste. The dressing’s smooth texture ties all the flavors together perfectly.
What is in green goddess salad dressing?
This green goddess salad dressing is made with fresh herbs like basil, dill, cilantro, chives, mint, and Italian parsley, combined with Greek yogurt, quality mayonnaise, and sheep’s feta for creaminess. It also includes jalapeño, garlic, anchovy, lemon juice and zest, olive oil, water, capers, salt, and pepper for a rich, tangy, and herbaceous flavor. Blend these ingredients until smooth for a luscious, flavorful dressing.
Can I adjust the level of heat in the dressing?
Yes, you can adjust the heat by using less jalapeño or removing the seeds and membranes, which contain most of the spiciness. If you prefer more heat, you can add more jalapeño or even a bit of cayenne pepper.
Looking for More Salad Recipes
- Grilled Corn Salad
- Steak Salad with Thai Dressing
- Tomato Salad with Cilantro-Mint Dressing
- Easy Caesar Salad Recipe
- Radicchio Salad with Miso Maple Dressing
- Kale and White Bean Salad | Erewhon Copycat
Loving this Green Goddess Salad Recipe?
There’s a reason this recipe is loved by all! Leave a comment below and share your love for this recipe on Instagram and Pinterest. We love to see you get down in the kitchen. Thank you for supporting Whisper of Yum and happy eating!
Green Goddess Salad
Equipment
- Blender,
- Small Pan
Ingredients
- ½ packed cup basil
- ½ cup fresh dill
- 1 small jalapeño
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3½ ounces sheep's feta, drained, do not use crumbled
- ⅓ packed cup cilantro
- ⅓ cup chives
- ¼ cup mint
- ¼ cup italian parsley
- 1 filet anchovy, oil drained
- 5 ounces greek yogurt, full-fat
- 2 tablespoons quality mayonnaise, Duke's or Hellman's
- 1 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1½ tablespoons quality olive oil
- ½ tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, Diamond Crystal
- ¾ teaspoon capers, drained
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Salad
- 3 heads little jem lettuce
- sheep's feta cheese, an optional topping
- freshly cracked black pepper
Focaccia Breadcrumbs
- ⅔ cup focaccia breadcrumbs, finely crumbled, can use panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, microplaned
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
Instructions
Green Goddess Dressing
- Add all dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Place extra in a refrigerator-safe container.
Focaccia Breadcrumbs
- In a skillet over medium heat, add butter. Once melted, add grated garlic and cook until fragrant, about minute (do not brown garlic.) Add breadcrumbs and cook for 2-3 minutes or until toasted and crispy. Stir in salt then set aside.
Assemble
- Assemble little gem lettuce in a bowl then pour desired amount of dressing and breadcrumbs. Finish with freshly cracked black pepper.
