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 – Green goddess dressing has some onion-y notes in addition to the herbs; this is from the scallions.
- 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, 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.
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
Ingredients
Instructions
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Place all ingredients except for sour cream in a blender and blend until smooth.
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Add sour cream and process until blended.
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Keep refrigerated until serving.
Last Step:
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