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    Home » Recipes » Grateful Grazer

    Published: Apr 12, 2022 · Modified: Apr 23, 2022 by Stephanie McKercher, RDN · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Vegan Green Goddess Dressing

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Action shot of a spoon coming out of a jar of green salad dressing. Text overlay reads, "Vegan Green Goddess Dressing."

    Say goodbye to your boring, old salad routine! You can make this creamy Vegan Green Goddess Dressing at home in just five minutes. It will instantly upgrade any salad, wrap, or veggie dish.

    Action shot of a spoon inside a jar of Vegan Green Goddess Dressing.

    Prepping your own salad dressing is the easiest way to step up your salad game. Especially when it's with flavorful fresh herbs and the most delicious, creamy texture like Green Goddess.

    A lot of the bottled Green Goddess Dressings you'll find in the store have dairy. This plant-based version is made with a yogurt alternative instead, so it's naturally vegan and dairy-free. (But still super creamy!)

    Homemade Green Goddess Dressing is so easy (and a great option for meal prep). Just blend yogurt alternative, fresh herbs, and a few more simple ingredients in a blender or food processor.

    Creamy, herby, salad dressing perfection in five minutes flat. Sign me up.

    This salad dressing is delicious any time of the year, but it works especially well with spring recipes.

    Spring is a time of year when there are lots of fresh herbs in season. Since the weather is warming up, I know I'm going to be craving more salads and anything fresh and green!

    Jump to:
    • Tasting Notes
    • Pairing
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Preparation
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food safety
    • Meal Prep Ideas

    Tasting Notes

    With big bunches of green herbs, the primary flavors in Green Goddess Dressing are refreshing and herbaceous.

    You'll also get some bright, citrusy flavor from the lemon and a little heat from the garlic.

    The yogurt alternative gives the dressing an ultra creamy texture that'll have you craving fresh salads daily. (Really!)

    Pairing

    Use this Vegan Green Goddess Dressing with basically any salad or wrap. It's especially delicious in this Green Goddess Crunchy Tofu Wrap!

    You could also swap out the tahini dressing for Green Goddess in this Spring Farro Salad or use it on my Meal Prep Salad recipe.

    It also works great on top of roasted vegetables, like these Smashed Potatoes, for example.

    Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need to make this at home:

    Flat-lay image of yogurt alternative, fresh herbs, olive oil, lemon, garlic, salt and pepper.
    • Plain dairy-free yogurt alternative
    • Parsley
    • Basil
    • Chives 
    • Mint
    • Dill
    • Lemon
    • Extra virgin olive oil 
    • Garlic
    • Salt
    • Pepper

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    As far as prep work goes, this dressing is super simple.

    There's no need to finely chop all of the fresh herbs. You're going to blend it all up in a food processor or blender anyway.

    Just tear off the herb leaves from their stems. If you have really large basil leaves, you can tear those into smaller pieces. Then, give the chives and garlic a few chops so they blend into the dressing more easily.

    Next, add all of your ingredients to your blender or food processor container.

    Add yogurt alternative, parsley, basil, chives, mint, dill, grated lemon peel (aka zest), lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.

    Salad dressing ingredients in a food processor before blending.

    Then, just cover and blend for about two minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

    You want to make sure there aren't any large pieces of herbs or garlic. It should be smooth and uniform.

    Process shot with blended green goddess dressing in a food processor.

    Hint: Pause to scrape down the sides of the food processor or blender with a spatula if needed.

    If the dressing is too thick, gradually add water (one tablespoon at a time) until you reach the consistency you want. Whether or not you need water will depend on how thick your yogurt alternative is.

    Vegan Green Goddess Dressing in a glass jar surrounded by fresh herbs.

    Substitutions

    This recipe is naturally vegan and dairy-free. It's also gluten-free (just double check that the yogurt alternative you use doesn't contain any gluten).

    Here are a few substitutions you can make if needed to better fit your preferences and/or diet:

    • Herbs - instead of the exact proportions of parsley, basil, chives, mint, and dill in this recipe, you can use any mix of fresh green herbs that you like. In addition to the herbs used in this recipe, tarragon or cilantro would also work well. You can use fresh spinach as a replacement for some of the herbs, if preferred.
    • Yogurt - feel free to use a dairy-based yogurt if you don't need the recipe to be vegan or dairy-free. Just make sure the yogurt is plain (unflavored) and unsweetened.
    • Nut-free - a soy- or coconut-based plain yogurt alternative will make this recipe nut-free. Always double-check the ingredient list for potential allergens.
    • Soy-free - use a nut-based plain yogurt alternative. Double-check the ingredient list to make sure it doesn't contain any soy.

    Variations

    Add your own creative spin to this Vegan Green Goddess Dressing! Here are a few ideas:

    • Spicy - add crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or a chopped jalapeño pepper.
    • Cheesy - add a tablespoon of nutritional yeast.
    • Mild - omit the garlic.
    • Briney - add capers to give this dressing more salty, briney flavor. (This is a good way to mimic the anchovies in some Green Goddess Dressing recipes.)
    Action shot of a spoonful of green goddess dressing held over the jar.

    Equipment

    I use a small food processor to make this recipe. You can also use a blender.

    There are only a couple of things to keep in mind when preparing this dressing in a blender or food processor.

    1. If the herbs are sticking to the sides of your blender or food processor container, pause to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
    2. Gradually add water (one tablespoon at a time) if the ingredients are getting stuck and not blending well.

    If you don't have a blender or food processor, you could also make this dressing by hand. Mince (finely chop) the herbs and garlic and stir together all of the ingredients in a bowl.

    Note that if you mix this by hand, the final color and texture will be a little different than the blender/food processor version.

    Preparation

    You can prep Green Goddess Dressing up to four days ahead of time. Perfect for a quick and easy meal prep recipe!

    Storage

    Store the prepared dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    Note: this dressing tends to thicken in the fridge. Gradually stir in water (one tablespoon at a time) until you reach the consistency you like before serving.

    Yogurt-based dressings don't stand up well to freezing. Only make as much as you can use within four days.

    Vegan Green Goddess Dressing in a glass jar with a white background.

    Top tip

    There are a few different types of dairy-free yogurt alternatives.

    I prefer almond, cashew, or soy-based yogurt alternatives for this recipe, since they have relatively neutral flavors.

    Choose a soy-based yogurt alternative if you want the dressing to be higher in protein.

    There are also coconut yogurt alternatives on the market. Just note that the finished dressing will have some coconut flavor.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What's in Green Goddess Dressing?

    Green Goddess Dressing is typically a mix of yogurt and/or sour cream and/or mayonnaise, herbs, oil, and lemon. It sometimes also contains garlic and anchovies.

    Can you scale Green Goddess Dressing?

    Yes, feel free to double or triple this recipe. Just start with 3 cloves of garlic and taste the dressing before adding more.

    How long can you store Green Goddess Dressing?

    Store the prepared dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    Can you freeze Green Goddess Dressing?

    No, yogurt-based dressings don't stand up well to freezing.

    📖 Recipe

    Action shot of a spoon inside a jar of Vegan Green Goddess Dressing.

    Vegan Green Goddess Dressing

    Blend dairy-free yogurt alternative, fresh herbs, lemon, olive oil, and garlic to make a delicious vegan salad dressing in just five minutes.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
    Course: dressings, Salads, sauces
    Cuisine: American, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 56kcal
    Author: Stephanie McKercher, RDN

    Equipment

    • Food processor or blender
    • Knife and cutting board
    • Microplane or grater

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup plain unsweetened dairy-free yogurt alternative (see note)
    • 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
    • ½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn if large
    • 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh chives
    • 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
    • 1 tablespoon fresh dill
    • 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel (1 medium)
    • 4 tablespoons lemon juice (1 medium)
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
    • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
    • ⅛ teaspoon pepper or to taste

    Instructions

    • Add yogurt alternative, parsley, basil, chives, mint, dill, lemon peel, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender.
      https://gratefulgrazer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Step-1-Vegan-Green-Goddess-Dressing.mp4
    • Blend for 2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy. Pause to scrape down sides with a spatula if needed. If the dressing is too thick, gradually add water (one tablespoon at a time) until you reach desired consistency.
      https://gratefulgrazer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Step-2-Vegan-Green-Goddess-Dressing.mp4

    Video

    Notes

    Use any type of plain yogurt alternative for this recipe. (I prefer almond, cashew, or soy-based yogurt alternatives.) Make sure the yogurt alternative is plain (unflavored) and unsweetened. Check ingredients for gluten and other potential allergens if needed.
     
    STORAGE: Store prepared dressing in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Does not stand up well to freezing.
     
    MAKING AHEAD: Make up to 4 days in advance. Dressing thickens in the fridge. Stir in water one tablespoon at a time until you reach desired consistency before serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.167cup | Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.3g | Protein: 1.2g | Fat: 4.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g | Sodium: 81.1mg | Potassium: 64.2mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 1.8g | Vitamin C: 18.7mg | Calcium: 55.6mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @GratefulGrazer or tag #gratefulgrazer.

    Food safety

    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours
    • Use homemade dressing within 4 days.

    See more food safety guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Meal Prep Ideas

    Sign up for my newsletter to get 100 more easy vegetarian meal prep ideas like this!

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    Hello! My name is Stephanie. I'm a registered dietitian, recipe developer, and cookbook author. Here on Grateful Grazer, you'll find easy, plant-forward recipes, vegetarian nutrition information, and approachable guides to meal planning and prep.

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