This delicious Green Goddess Salad combines cabbage, cucumber, green onions, avocado, broccoli, and sunflower seeds in a velvety dressing with a creamy base of mayonnaise, sour cream, and fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, chives, tarragon, basil, mint, and cilantro.
This is one of our favorite salads. It has a lot of texture and flavor, it is easy to make, and it is always a crowd favorite. For more refreshing salads, check out 30 Best Salad Recipes.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Sour cream: Use full-fat sour cream for the best flavor and texture. You can substitute full-fat plain Greek yogurt.
- Anchovy paste: It can be found at the grocery store in the same aisle as other canned fish, such as tuna and sardines. Once opened, store it in the refrigerator, and it will last about 3 months.
- Fresh herbs: Such as parsley, dill, chives, and tarragon. Use basil, mint, and cilantro as customary secondary herbs.
- Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed.
- Green cabbage: Traditional green cabbage is best with this salad, although variations might include romaine mixed with butter lettuce, spinach, or kale.
- Cucumber: English cucumbers work best for this salad. Their skins are less tough, so peeling is not necessary, and the seeds are so small they are barely noticeable.
- Avocado: Not always traditional, but it adds a creamy element to the salad. If you are new to choosing ripe avocados, pick up an extra one in case you select one that is overripe.
- Sunflower seeds: You can substitute pepitas, which are shelled pumpkin seeds.
How To Make Green Goddess Salad
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Add the mayo, sour cream, anchovy paste, garlic, parsley, dill, chives, and lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse until well combined.
- Add the green cabbage, cucumber, green onions, avocado, sunflower seeds, and broccoli to a large serving bowl.
- Add the desired amount of dressing and toss to coat.
Make Ahead Instructions
Make the dressing 2-3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Chop all the vegetables except the avocado and store them in separate bags. When ready to serve, combine the vegetables, chop and add the avocado, drizzle with the prepared dressing, and toss to coat.
Serving Suggestions
- Chicken: popcorn chicken, chicken cutlets, and marinated grilled chicken
- Shrimp: coconut shrimp, grilled shrimp, and shrimp po’ boy
- Sandwiches: chicken salad, broiled tomato sandwich, and cucumber sandwiches
More Salad Recipes
Green Goddess Salad
Ingredients
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
- 1 clove garlic, quartered
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
- ¼ cup chopped chives
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Green Goddess Salad
- 1 small head green cabbage, cored and finely chopped
- 1 English cucumber, finely chopped
- 1 bunch green onions, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, finely chopped
- 1 cup finely chopped broccoli
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds, salted or unsalted
Instructions
- Add the mayo, sour cream, anchovy paste, garlic, parsley, dill, chives, and lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse until well combined. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Add the green cabbage, cucumber, green onions, avocado, broccoli, and sunflower seeds to a large serving bowl.
- Add the desired amount of dressing and toss to coat. I usually add a cup of dressing to start. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Notes
- This salad is best served promptly.
- Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for about a day before the avocado starts browning.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
I love Green goddess dressing and it was so easy to make at home. I skipped the anchovies in the recipe. First time making it and it came out really good.
Stephanie
I am not usually a fan of so many vegetables, but the dressing on this, along with the combination of flavors, make this such a great side dish!
Melanie E
I am a big salad fan and this one sounds like a fun one. I love the mix of ingredients, it sounds like it is not just super healthy but also really tasty too. A must try for me x
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie! Enjoy!
Neha K
Oh I love salads during this time of the year and green goddess is my favorite. Can’t wait to try it your way!
Catalina
I made this for lunch and it tasted so fresh and light. The dressing ties everything together perfectly.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Catalina! We love it too!
Claudia
I made this for my husband and son as a side last night, and they loved it. Rave reviews.
Beth Pierce
So happy that they liked it, Claudia!
Amy
Wow, this salad was so darn good! Love how easy and flavorful it was!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Amy! So glad that you enjopyed it!
Tammy
I made salad wraps with this and it was the most delicious lunch! A hearty salad can just hit the spot for me…so refreshing and flavorful. Definitely making this again!
Beth Pierce
So happy that you liked the salad, Tammy!
Ben
Man, this was good. I mixed in some grilled chicken. Chef’s kiss.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Ben!
Terri
This is so, so good. I used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to get the same flavor with more protein. Amazing recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Terri! It is one of our favorites.