Avocado Green Goddess Dressing – Dairy Free & Vegan

Why You’ll Love this Avocado Green Goddess Dressing

This versatile dressing has a bold, vibrant flavor and an insanely creamy texture – it’s quickly becoming my go-to sauce for quick weeknight dinners!

Here are a few reasons why we love this recipe and you will too:

• Creamy Texture: The avocado and soaked cashews create an ultra-rich and smooth base for this dressing. 

• Dairy Free & Vegan: By using plant-based ingredients like avocado, herbs, and non-dairy milk, this dressing is friendly for vegan and dairy-free diets.

• Quick & Easy: With just 10 minutes of prep and blending, this sauce comes together in no time.

• Fresh, Vibrant, Herby Flavor: Lots of fresh parsley, cilantro, and basil give this dressing a bright, herby flavor profile.

Ingredients

This creamy homemade avocado green goddess dressing comes together with just a few simple whole food ingredients. I’ve tried to keep it as easy as possible while still packing in fresh flavor.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Fresh Avocado: Ripe avocado is the main ingredient that provides a rich, creamy base and healthy fats.

• Soaked Cashews: These create a dreamy cashew cream when blended.

• Fresh Basil, Cilantro, and Parsley: Plenty of fresh herbs give this dressing its signature vibrant, green color and fresh flavor. You could also add chives or green onions.

• Fresh Garlic Cloves: Adds a savory, pungent bite.

• Lemon Juice: Provides bright acidity to balance the creaminess.

• Agave Nectar: A touch of natural sweetener.

• Salt and Pepper: To help enhance all the other flavors.

• Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: Thins and smooths out the dressing. I used almond milk.

Substitutions & Add Ins

Missing an ingredient above? Here are a few swaps that can work in a pinch:

• Vegan Greek Yogurt, Vegan Mayo or Vegan Sour Cream: A ½ cup can be used in place of soaked cashews to provide a creamy base.

• Green Onion or Chives: These can be added for an extra punch of flavor.

• Apple Cider Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar or Fresh Lime Juice: Provides acidity if you don’t have lemon juice.

• Cayenne Powder: Add a pinch in place of black pepper for a touch of heat.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Drizzle in a tablespoon for added flavor.

• Capers: These add a plant-based briny flavor. I love using capers to replace the flavor of anchovy paste in dressings. I opted to leave these out of the dressing below for simplicity, but I think they’d make a great addition. I use capers in my vegan Caesar Dressing and they add TONS of flavor.

• Vegan Worcestershire sauce: A bit of this is a great way to amp up the umami taste.

Helpful Equipment

• High-speed blender: For creating that creamy texture we’re going for.
• Food processor: Can also be used to blend the ingredients, although it will result in a chunkier texture.
• Airtight container or mason jar: For storing leftovers in the fridge.

Step By Step Instructions

Here are a few easy steps to make this classic green goddess dressing at home:

STEP 1: Soak the cashews in 1/2 cup warm water for 5 minutes. Gather the other ingredients while they soak.

STEP 2: Add all the remaining ingredients to a high-speed blender. Once the cashews have soaked, add them plus the 1/2 cup soaking water to the blender.

STEP 3: Blend for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth and creamy. Add more water or almond milk as needed to thin the dressing to your desired consistency. Taste and add salt as desired.

STEP 4: Transfer the blended dressing to an airtight container or mason jar. Store in the fridge for 2-3 days.