Recipe: Green Goddess Dressing

Green goddess dressing is a rare kitchen wonder: as good as it is famous and as secretly easy as it is impressive.

Best of all, it’s a recipe you really can’t get wrong. It can be a child of inspiration or of leftovers: Throw in whatever greens and herbs you have handy, then season to your heart’s desire — how briny, how sour, how creamy, how salty is up to you.

There’s no method to this madness. Simply throw your ingredients into a blender and watch them spin until you get the earthy, swirly dressing of your dreams. If you’re experimenting, you can add one section (below) at a time to first mince your greens, then flavor to taste.

Below we’ve outlined what we consider the ideal ingredient mix, but don’t be afraid to go off script. The green goddess is within you!

Leaves & Herbs

Greens are the star of the show. Creativity pays off, and necessity is a great creator, so use whatever you have in the garden or the fridge. You just want to end up with three heaping cups of packed greens; mix and match to your liking. Our suggestions:

• 1 cup packed watercress or spinach leaves
• 1 cup parsley leaves
• 1 cup mix of tarragon, chives, dill, cilantro, basil, and mint

Flavor & Brine

Adding garlic, capers, and anchovies will add depth and brine to balance out the airy greenness of the dressing. Adjust to your liking:

• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 2 anchovy fillets

Liquid & Tang

Add lemon for brightness and oil to emulsify. Adjust based on your sour capacity and how runny you want it (are you dipping crudités or dressing a salad?):

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice or the whole lemon
• 1 tablespoon apple cider or sherry vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Cream & Sugar

The more dairy you add, the thicker and sweeter your dressing will be. You can add this last to taste and adjust as needed:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup plain yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, or crème fraîche

Finishing Touches

Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste. Serve as a dip with potato chips or crudités or to dress any salad. This dressing has magical powers, so it’s extremely versatile.

Find more uses for your herbs in these fresh brews.