Green Goddess Dressing [I love it so much I could marry it.]

Do people even know what Green Goddess is anymore?  I wonder.  I want to start a Green Goddess revival, beginning with my own kids who LOVE it.  It's 2 good 2 B 4gotten, people.

Green Goddess has to be my favorite salad dressing of all time.  Growing up it was a dressing we had often, and as a result, my siblings and I share a deep and abiding love of this dressing. It has a little something for everyone: the earthiness of anchovies, the bite of fresh garlic, the grassy tarragon, and the zing from green onions. It's sharp and assertive and I think that's why it marries so well with tender, sweet leafy greens.

It's excellent on butter lettuce--it's like the two were meant for each other--but it's also a great medium for a chunky chicken salad which is accompanied by sliced tomatoes and avocado. Or a shrimp or crab salad. Or as a dip for crudité.

I use the Joy of Cooking's recipe as my jumping off point.  Instead of tarragon vinegar, though, I use lots of fresh tarragon.

GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

Use only Best Foods/Hellman's mayo (or light mayo) for this.  (Note: Don't use the new olive oil-flavored mayonnaise "dressing."  I tried it and it ruined my Green Goddess dressing. Pleh. Trust me on this.)

Makes enough for several salads.  Keeps for about a week.

Dump the following into your blender (or use a stick blender) and whiz until green and creamy. It should contain darker green flecks from the herbs.

• 1 cup of Best Foods/Hellman's mayo
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 2 smashed garlic cloves
• 3 anchovy fillets (the kind packed in olive oil)
• a handful of chopped green onions (or chives)
• a handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 bunch of chopped fresh tarragon, leaves only
• 2 tbsps of white wine or champagne vinegar
• a pinch of lemon zest
• sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Let sit in fridge at least an hour before serving.

Comments

[ToKissTheCook]

My absolute favorite dressing. I use my grandfather's recipe but these days sub Greek yogurt for mayo entirely. I just never was a mayo girl outside the homemade variety and that seems wasted effort here. I will dip anything in this stuff but a simple salad with thinly sliced flank steak on top? Perfect.

[Michelle Pixie]

YUM! I'll have to give it a try.

[hannah m]

...so excited to try making this. my mom used to make it, too, when i was a kid. it's been years since i've enjoyed it. (and i adore the name.)

[TJ]

I was hoping you'd post this!

[abbiebabble]

That looks so good! Alice Waters has a version in Chez Panisse vegetables that I've been meaning to try, but I think I might have to go with this one first!

[haitian american family of three]

I always thought it had avocado IN it hence the name! I am going to try and make this.

[Al_Pal]

Sounds so good!
Bookmarked. :D

[Bea]

OOH, I love green goddess dressing! I use the green goddess spice jar from Penzy's spices all the time. And I definitely agree with you on the olive oil mayo!

[beyond]

i don't think i have ever had this. what a great combination of ingredients, it looks divine.

[Erika Kerekes]

OH yeah, this sounds good. I like anything with anchovies!

[Amy]

I love this dressing also, although I use basil instead of tarragon and lemon juice instead of vinegar. Unfortunately both my kids have dairy issues (one is allergic, one has an intolerance) so they can't eat it, which means I don't make it that often. But when I do . ...yum. Especially good on steamed artichokes.

[Kalyn]

Love it, going to print the recipe and make it today! (And I'm with you on the olive oil mayo, tastes terrible!)

[Jane]

Annie's Natural makes a wonderfully garlicky Green Goddess, if you're in a hurry.

[erin]

Now, if you are from the 'South', I would make one change to this...Dukes mayonnaise!

[Mommy Warriors]

I'm so with you on this. I rediscovered Green Goddess at a party when someone served it in a bowl with baby romaine lettuce leaves as an appetizer. And any bottled version is NNNNOOOO comparison to the one made from scratch. MMMMM now I'm hungry.

[erin]

Looks great. I think I will make it next time I whip up Rachel Ray's pasta puttanesca because I always have leftover anchovies.

[beth]

So completely not related to green goddess dressing...
If the ford people are still looking for car ideas that make moms happy...
tell them to put the seatbelt buckles on the outside of the seat not the interior....
it's super obnoxious to have to fumble blindly on the other side of the carseat to get the belt buckled every.single.time.
Thanks!
:)

[Asianmommy]

Hmm...I've never heard of this dressing before. Sounds wonderful!

[Di]

Mmmm....sounds delish! I have fallen deeply in love with Greek Yogurt and am glad to see a delicious recipe utilizing it. Can't wait to try it out!

[g-judy]

For the green goddess recipe: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

[Aimee Greeblemonkey]

There is something similar that they serve at the restaurant near my college. Whenever one of us in FL we buy bottles of it.