For those on a ketogenic diet or simply seeking a flavorful and nutritious salad dressing, look no further than the Keto Green Goddess Dressing. This vibrant dressing is incredibly easy to make, packed with healthy fats and fresh herbs, and versatile enough to be used on salads, as a dip, or as a sauce for various dishes.
What is Green Goddess Dressing?
Traditionally, green goddess dressing is a mayonnaise-based salad dressing that contains lots of fresh herbs and garlic. This keto-friendly version swaps out the mayonnaise for healthier alternatives while retaining the signature creamy texture and herbaceous flavor.
Why Make Your Own Salad Dressing?
Making homemade salad dressings offers several advantages over store-bought options. Homemade dressings allow you to control the ingredients, ensuring they are fresh and free from unwanted additives and preservatives. You can also tailor the flavor profile to your liking, experimenting with different herbs, spices, and levels of tanginess. Plus, homemade dressings are often more cost-effective than their store-bought counterparts. Store bought mayo is full of harmful vegetable oils that can cause free radical damage in the body.
Key Ingredients and Their Benefits
This Keto Green Goddess Dressing recipe features a blend of wholesome ingredients that contribute to its flavor and nutritional value:
- Avocado: The base of this dressing, avocado provides healthy fats, fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and folate. Avocados are incredibly healthy food because they taste incredible and are full of healthy fat. In fact, avocados are one of the richest foods on the planet with more than 70% of their calories coming from fat. My method for determining if an avocado is ripe is to gently press the skin and feel how soft the flesh is. The softer the avocado is the riper it is.
- Olive Oil: A source of monounsaturated fats, olive oil adds richness and contributes to the dressing's smooth texture. Choose high-quality olive oil. Not all olive oil is created equal.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This vinegar provides a tangy flavor that balances the richness of the avocado and olive oil.
- Fresh Herbs: A combination of fresh herbs, such as basil, chives, dill, parsley, cilantro, and tarragon, is essential for the dressing's signature green goddess flavor. We love the idea of making this recipe your own by using different fresh herbs or chopped vegetables. For more of a traditional green goddess flavor, try swapping 1-2 tablespoons basil for fresh tarragon. Or use a combination of cilantro, basil, and parsley for a more earthy flavor profile.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds brightness and acidity, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
- Salt and Pepper: These seasonings enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.
Recipe: Keto Green Goddess Dressing
This recipe is incredibly simple and requires only a few minutes to prepare.
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Ingredients:
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mixed fresh herbs (such as basil, chives, dill, parsley, cilantro, and tarragon)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 tablespoon water (for thinning)
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or high-powered blender.
- Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides if needed.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lemon juice, salt, or pepper to taste.
- If you want to thin out this dressing, just add a tablespoon of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Thick or thin, it’s incredibly healthy and delicious!
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Optional Additions:
- Anchovy Paste: For a more traditional green goddess flavor, add a small amount of anchovy paste.
- Capers or Green Olives: Add briny, salty flavors.
- Garlic: Add one fresh garlic cloves.
Serving Suggestions
This Keto Green Goddess Dressing is incredibly versatile and can be used in various ways:
- Salads: The most obvious use is as a salad dressing. Pour over your favorite greens and vegetables for a flavorful and healthy meal. For this chopped salad, cutting the vegetables finely is the key to the texture, and using fresh herbs is the key to the flavor. Instead of using all green vegetables, you could use red cabbage, and red bell pepper for a red and green color combo reminiscent of the holidays. Whatever you do to make this your own, just be sure to track the changes in net carbs.
- Dips: Serve with chopped vegetables like cucumber, celery, and radishes for a healthy low-carb snack. When served with chopped vegetables like cucumber, celery, and radishes it’s a healthy low-carb snack for a summer barbecue or in the winter, a lazy football Sunday.
- Sauces: Use as a sauce for grilled chicken, fish, or vegetables.
- Marinades: Marinate chicken or fish in the dressing for added flavor and moisture.
Tips for Success
- Use Ripe Avocado: Ensure the avocado is ripe for the best flavor and texture.
- Adjust Herb Quantities: Adjust the quantities of herbs to suit your taste preferences. If you’re not a fan of parsley, you have options!
- Thin as Needed: Add water to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.
- Store Properly: Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator to prevent browning. To prevent this, pour the dressing into a container and squeeze a layer of lemon juice on top.
Keto Green Goddess Chopped Salad Recipe
This recipe combines the Keto Green Goddess Dressing with a variety of fresh vegetables for a delicious and satisfying salad.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh cabbage, shredded
- 3/4 cup fresh cucumber, with skin
- 1/3 cup fresh green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh scallions, tops & bulb, chopped
- Keto Green Goddess Dressing (recipe above)
Instructions:
- Into a medium bowl, combine finely chopped green cabbage, diced cucumber, thinly sliced scallions, and diced green bell pepper, tossing to mix.
- Pour Keto Green Goddess Dressing over the chopped vegetables.
- Toss vegetables and dressing until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately, or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Variations
- Vegan Green Goddess Dressing: Here's our vegan and keto friendly spin on the Green Goddess dressing. Usually, this dressing will have anchovies and Greek yogurt, so instead we added some sweet and savory flavor to create a dressing you'll want to use all year. The beautiful green color of this dressing comes from fresh parsley and the hint of sweetness comes from our sugar free maple syrup. Since our syrup is sugar free, it means you don't have any hidden carbs in your salad dressing.
- Greek Yogurt Green Goddess Dressing: Greek Yogurt - This creamy keto dressing starts with some non-fat Greek yogurt! It’s the perfect base for the dressing and will take on lots of flavors from the other ingredients!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I use a different oil instead of avocado oil? Absolutely! You can substitute avocado oil with olive oil or any other neutral oil you prefer. Just keep in mind that it may slightly change the flavor.
- What can I use if I don't have fresh basil? If you don't have fresh basil, you can use other fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, or even dried herbs, although fresh will give the best flavor.
- How long can I store the Keto Green Goddess Dressing? You can store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just give it a good stir before using, as it may separate.
- Is this dressing suitable for meal prep? Yes! This dressing is perfect for meal prep. Just 10-15 minutes of meal prep will result in 4-5 servings of salad dressing - that’s enough dressing for a week of salads!
- Can I use this dressing daily? Yes - it’s designed for keto and healthy fat diets.
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