Green goddess salad recipe

A dish fit for a deity

So, what exactly makes a salad a green goddess salad recipe? Aren’t most salads green? Well, yes – the secret is in the dressing. Foodies believe that the green goddess salad dressing originated in San Francisco in the 1920s. The head chef at the Palace Hotel, Philip Roemer, created it as a tribute to actor George Arliss. He was starring in a play called The Green Goddess, which is where the colorful dressing gets its name.

The original version featured anchovies, mayonnaise, chives, and parsley, but since then the dressing has been altered and updated many times. For example, we’ve made this green goddess salad recipe entirely plant-based by using cashew nuts, mustard, and vegan yoghurt. Plus, we’ve included spirulina powder to enhance both the color and the health benefits. Essentially, as long as the dressing is green, herby, and velvety smooth, you can get away with calling it a green goddess salad dressing!

So, why might you want to revive this historic dressing? For one, the creamy, herbaceous flavor it brings to a dish is delicious. This makes it a fantastic way to get excited about eating salad or serving it at a dinner party. Plus, our version is bursting with nourishing ingredients that support your wellbeing. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key players in this green goddess salad recipe. Then we’ll talk about how to make it.

Dial up your dressing

The dressing is the highlight of any green goddess salad recipe, and ours is no exception. Its vivid jade hue is thanks to the addition of parsley, but these leaves bring more than simply color. Parsley is rich in vitamin K, which is necessary for bone health and blood clotting. Furthermore, the herb is a fantastic source of beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin – all crucial nutrients for eye health.

Mustard also forms a key part of the dressing base in this green goddess salad recipe. As well as its tangy taste and creamy texture, mustard offers a surprising number of health benefits. For example, it’s bursting with antioxidants like sinigrin, in addition to minerals such as iron, selenium, and phosphorus. These all have vital roles to play in keeping us fit and well.

Moving on to the ginger, this warming spice is a wellness-boosting powerhouse. It contains a compound called gingerol, which functions as a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. As such, it could be helpful in reducing the symptoms of conditions such as arthritis.(1) Ginger may additionally work to protect the health of the heart. Studies show that the spice could lower blood pressure, promote blood flow, and improve cholesterol levels.(2) These are all effective ways to decrease the risk of developing heart disease.

Finally, cashews are a fantastic source of protein and unsaturated fat, plus minerals such as magnesium and copper. They may therefore help to support heart health and lower blood sugar levels. Interestingly, tucking into nuts such as cashews might additionally protect against memory loss.(3) That’s a lot of good reasons to include them in your green goddess salad recipe!

Brussels sprouts: not just for Christmas

The humble Brussels sprout isn't exactly the most popular of vegetables. Often overcooked and frequently under-appreciated, it’s an ingredient more commonly eaten for tradition or health benefits rather than enjoyment. But with any luck, this green goddess salad recipe might just change your mind about it!

An early version of the vegetable was probably consumed all the way back in Ancient Rome. However, the Brussels sprout we are familiar with today likely originates from the 13^th century in what’s now Belgium. People began cultivating it more widely in the 16^th century, and its popularity in the country’s capital gave the vegetable its name.

Boiling your Brussels sprouts for too long can increase their bitterness and intensify their smell. That’s why we recommend using them raw and shredded in this green goddess salad recipe. But if you really don’t like sprouts, feel free to use white cabbage instead!

If you’re willing to give Brussels sprouts a chance, they can bring some fabulous health benefits to a dish. For instance, they’re rich in vitamin K and vitamin C, the latter of which helps boost immunity and collagen production. The vegetable is also high in fiber. As such, tucking into this green goddess salad recipe could help to stabilize your blood sugar levels and lessen the risk of type 2 diabetes.(4)

Brussels sprouts are additionally bursting with antioxidants, which protect our cells against the damage caused by free radicals.(5) They can also work to reduce inflammation, further decreasing the risk of chronic disease. As an example, studies link the consumption of cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts with a lower likelihood of heart disease.(6) All of which makes sprouts the perfect addition to a green goddess salad recipe!

Revamping a classic: our green goddess salad recipe

This vibrant and wholesome dish is not only good for you, it's also delicious and easy to make. Here’s how to whip up our scrumptiously herby green goddess salad recipe. No divine intervention required!

Let’s begin with the dressing. Add the parsley leaves, cashew nuts, yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, ginger, and mustard to a blender. We suggest using unsweetened plant-based yogurt to get the best flavor. Sprinkle the spirulina powder on top, followed by a pinch each of sea salt and black pepper. Lastly, pour in the water and blend the mixture well until it’s beautifully creamy.

At this point, we recommend tasting the dressing so you can add more salt, pepper, lemon, or parsley as required. You might also want to use a splash more water if you’d prefer the dressing to be a little thinner. Conversely, you could thicken it up with extra yoghurt or mustard. That way, you’re able to create a green goddess salad recipe that perfectly suits your preferences.

For the salad, start by popping fresh shredded Brussels sprouts or white cabbage into a large bowl. Next, add the diced cucumber, chopped chives, and a pinch of black pepper. Pour the dressing on top, then mix everything together so the ingredients are evenly distributed and coated.

Now you’re ready to serve. Spoon your green goddess salad recipe into bowls, then garnish each one with a sprinkling of chopped cashews. You can also add a touch more black pepper for color and flavor if you like. Drizzle a little extra dressing on top and enjoy!

Spirulina: why we’re all about algae

What truly sets this green goddess salad recipe apart from the others is the addition of spirulina powder. For starters, its rich jade color adds plenty of vibrancy to the dish. And with its earthy, seaweed-like taste, spirulina brings a unique depth of flavor that we’re sure you’ll love! But that’s not all. Spirulina is also bursting with health benefits, so adding a sprinkle of the powder to your meals can be a great way to boost your wellbeing.

For starters, this potent blue-green algae helps to support the health of your heart in several ways. Studies indicate that spirulina can relax and dilate blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure.(7) What’s more, it could have a positive influence on cholesterol levels. Research has found that spirulina decreases ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.(8) All of which works to keep your cardiovascular system in top shape.

Spirulina is absolutely loaded with key nutrients. These include minerals such as copper and iron, all nine essential amino acids, plus antioxidant compounds like phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is what gives spirulina its vivid color, and it helps to tackle inflammation and oxidative stress. Experts have linked both to a host of chronic diseases, so this is one compound you definitely want in your green goddess salad recipe.

Interestingly, spirulina might be a good option for naturally boosting your energy levels too. Studies suggest the algae could enhance endurance and muscle strength, plus improve oxygen uptake during exercise.(7) As such, the powder has the potential to help increase athletic performance and fight fatigue. That makes this green goddess salad recipe a fabulous choice for days when you’re hitting the gym or hiking!

Introducing our organic spirulina powder

To get the maximum health benefits from the spirulina in your green goddess salad recipe, it must be high quality. That’s why we work with a top-notch team to cultivate our organic spirulina powder. They combine 35 years’ experience with the latest research results to determine the optimum conditions to grow the algae in.

We source our spirulina directly from small farms in Portugal, where the environmental conditions are ideal for it to flourish. They use completely organic methods, free from pesticides and other chemicals. What’s more, our producers cultivate the algae inside conservatories. This protects it from dust, insects, and other contaminants.

After harvesting, our team uses a patented process to dry the spirulina. This ensures that its nutritional content is not damaged by high temperatures. All of which means that the powder you receive offers the maximum potential health benefits.

While spirulina powder is perfect in this green goddess salad recipe, there are plenty of other ways you can include it in your diet. For example, it’s a fabulous addition to juices and smoothies – especially to balance out the sweetness of fruits like mango. Alternatively, stir some into a breakfast bowl for an extra-healthy start to your day!

Another great option is to use spirulina powder when baking raw snacks such as bliss balls. Simply mix some into a base of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds for a wholesome emerald treat. Prefer something savoury? We love sprinkling a dusting of spirulina on top of rice dishes as an alternative to seaweed. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with this versatile and wellness-enhancing ingredient!

Making this green goddess salad recipe your own

As we mentioned above, the green goddess salad recipe has gone through many changes over the years. That means you should feel free to make your own adjustments to the dish as well! This enables you to craft a meal that perfectly suits your tastes.

For instance, you could swap some of the parsley leaves for other green herbs like basil, tarragon, or coriander. Likewise, when it comes to the veggies that make up the bulk of the salad, you have almost limitless options. Try using lettuce, courgette, spinach, broccoli, celery, edamame, or avocado in the mix.

The only thing to remember is that to be a true green goddess salad recipe, the meal should be, well, green! That being said, there’s nothing wrong with introducing a splash of color if you like. The vivid red of tomatoes or rich purple of radishes can be particularly striking in this dish.

Now let’s talk about garnishes. We’ve suggested chopped cashews, but walnuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and pine nuts are all fantastic alternatives. Whichever type you choose, nuts and seeds are ideal for adding a different dimension to the texture of your salad.

When it comes to serving, once again, versatility is a strength of this dish. For example, to make it more substantial, you could try enjoying it with some of our raw activated crackers. These are a brilliant choice if you want to add more crunch to your green goddess salad recipe. Another option is to serve the dish as a side salad with your main meal.

With so many possibilities, there’s no chance of getting bored of this green goddess salad recipe. The biggest challenge will be deciding which version to try first!