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Creamy and herbaceous basil green goddess dressing is the perfect way to give your next salad an upgrade! Fresh basil makes this dressing a standout.
Green Goddess Dressing Recipe
In the summer when we have so much basil we don’t know what to do with it all, I love making this dressing to serve over my garden tomatoes and cucumbers. I got the idea for adding basil to green goddess dressing from Ina Garten; while traditional green goddess salad dressing is made with a combination of herbs, this one lets basil be the star. My husband is basil obsessed, so this recipe always makes him happy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Creamy—but light. Green goddess dressing sounds like it should be light and healthy, but the traditional version is a calorie bomb. Here, I lighten things up with light mayo and sour cream. (Although if you’re on a keto diet, you can use full-fat.)
- Versatile. This dressing isn’t just for salads! There are countless ways to use it—I share some of my favorite ideas below.
- Better than store-bought. While I admit, store-bought dressings are convenient, they don’t compare to homemade versions, which always taste so much fresher. (Try this Greek yogurt Caesar salad dressing too.)
What You’ll Need
Here’s a rundown of the ingredients you’ll need for basil green goddess dressing. Scroll down to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Light mayonnaise – I like to use Hellman’s.
- Scallions or Chives – Green goddess dressing has some onion-y notes in addition to the herbs; this is from the scallions or chives.
- Basil – Using fresh basil is non-negotiable. Dried just won’t work here!
- Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed juice adds bright flavor to the salad dressing.
- Garlic – This adds some garlicky flavor, but it’s not over-powering; the lemon juice helps mellow it out a bit.
- Kosher salt and black pepper – Essentials for a delicious dressing.
- Anchovy paste – As with Caesar salad, anchovy is the secret ingredient that makes this dressing pop. For a vegetarian green goddess dressing, you can add white miso paste or vegetarian Worcestershire sauce.
- Light sour cream – For creaminess and a bit of tang.
How to Make Basil Green Goddess Dressing
Here’s a quick overview of the steps involved in making this salad dressing. See the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Blend. Combine all the ingredients except the sour cream in a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
- Add the sour cream. Blend again until it’s fully incorporated.
- Serve. Use immediately or refrigerate for later.
Tips and Variations
- Use other herbs. For a more traditional take on green goddess dressing, use a combination of herbs like parsley, chives, mint, tarragon, and cilantro. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite.
- Adjust the consistency. You can make the dressing thicker by adding more sour cream, which makes it more of a dip. For a thinner dressing, blend in water a tablespoon or two at a time.
- Pack in the basil. You’ll need a good amount of basil for this dressing, which means packing it into the measuring cup tightly.
- Make it Lighter. Swap the mayo for Greek yogurt.
Ways to Use Green Goddess Dressing
- As a salad dressing. This dressing pairs perfectly with fresh greens and veggies. I like to serve it over a wedge of iceberg along with some fresh heirloom tomatoes.
- As a dip. Serve it as a dip for crispy veggies like carrots, celery, and bell peppers. It would work as a dip for skinny buffalo wings too.
- On sandwiches or wraps. Spread it on sandwiches or wraps for extra flavor and creaminess. It would also be great on on a chicken burger.
- With grilled meats. Drizzle it over grilled chicken breast, fish, or shrimp for a summery main dish.
- In pasta salads. Toss it with cooked pasta, chickpeas or white beans, and grape tomatoes for a simple pasta salad. (You’ll also love this green goddess potato salad!)
- On meal bowls. A spoonful of basil green goddess dressing adds color, flavor, and creaminess to healthy rice bowl recipes.
Proper Storage
Transfer the dressing to a jar, bottle, or other airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Because there’s mayo in this dressing, it cannot be frozen.)
More Easy Salad Dressing Recipes
Basil Green Goddess Dressing
Basil green goddess dressing is the perfect way to give your next salad an upgrade! This version is lightened up, but still rich and creamy.
Yield: 16 servings
Serving Size: 2 tbsp
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup light mayonnaise, such as Hellman’s (regular for Keto)
- 1/2 cup scallions, or chives, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, packed
- 1/8 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp anchovy paste
- 1/2 cup light sour cream, full fat for Keto
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for sour cream in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Add sour cream and process until blended.
- Keep refrigerated until serving.
Last Step:
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Makes about 2 cups.
Note: To make it lighter you can swap the mayo for Greek yogurt.
Nutrition
Serving: 2 tbsp, Calories: 60.3 kcal, Carbohydrates: 2.9 g, Protein: 1.3 g, Fat: 4.9 g, Fiber: 0.3 g
