Green Goddess Chicken Salad

I discovered this recipe at the Food and Wine website. It’s a recipe for a salad with green goddess dressing, by Melissa Rubel Jacobson.

Green goddess is a really wonderful dressing that uses lots of fresh herbs, which accounts for the green color. Sometimes an avocado is included as well. According to Food and Wine, the dressing was created at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco in the 1920’s, as a tribute to an actor starring in a play called The Green Goddess. Never heard of it, but it’s slightly before my time.

Today I’m following Ms. Jacobson’s recipe for green goddess dressing, but not so much her salad.

Create any kind of salad you want with your favorite ingredients, and drizzle on the beautiful green goddess dressing, which I made exactly as printed. It’s good!

Green Goddess Chicken Garden Salad
Moderately Adapted

Dressing:
2 oil-packed anchovies, drained
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup packed basil leaves
1 tablespoon oregano leaves
Few sprigs of fresh thyme
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons snipped chives
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Salad:
2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced or chopped
1 head romaine or butter lettuce, chopped
1/2 small cabbage, chopped
Approximately 1/2 garbanzo beans, well drained
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Peas or asparagus, optional
Hard-boiled eggs, optional

In a blender, purée mayonnaise with the herbs, lemon juice, and chives until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

This makes approximately 1 cup of dressing.

For the salad, there are so many options for preparing and serving. I chose to create a composed salad, just because they’re pretty.

Alternatively, you could combine chopped chicken, garbanzo beans, and tomatoes with some of the dressing, and serve on top of the lettuce and cabbage.

But that’s not as pretty, especially if you have company.

Just about any salad ingredient that goes well with an herby dressing will work perfectly.

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

47 Comments

  1. Travel Gourmet April 22, 2020 at 6:37 AM - Reply

    That looks like a great dressing! :)

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 7:08 AM - Reply

      It is so good. I rarely follow a recipe, but I’ll be making this again!

  2. Healthy World Cuisine April 22, 2020 at 6:47 AM - Reply

    Craving a fresh and delicious salad. Green Goddess is one of our favorites. Hope you are staying well. Take Care

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 7:07 AM - Reply

      Isn’t it wonderful?!! This recipe is perfect.

  3. Anonymous April 22, 2020 at 8:30 AM - Reply

    Interesting info Mimi. I’ve eaten my share of Green Goddess salad dressing, but never new it’s history. I guess I just thought it was something that Kraft invented. I’m going to have to whip up a batch of it for our next salad night. I think maybe with an avocado.

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 8:34 AM - Reply

      Actually, might I recommend that you follow this recipe exactly? It’s really really good! And as you know an avocado won’t really change the flavor, and the texture is already nice. Just a suggestion!

  4. Ron April 22, 2020 at 8:31 AM - Reply

    obbs: forgot to enter my name and such for my comment.

  5. kitchenriffs April 22, 2020 at 10:44 AM - Reply

    Greek Goddess is such a wonderful salad dressing! Makes a great dip, too. One of those recipes from my childhood that definitely worth bringing back. Your salad looks SO good — thanks.

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 11:03 AM - Reply

      Thanks, John! This recipe is really good. I wouldn’t change a thing!

  6. cindy knoke April 22, 2020 at 11:28 AM - Reply

    This looks delicious!

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 11:31 AM - Reply

      Thank you Cindy!

  7. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats April 22, 2020 at 11:59 AM - Reply

    Beautiful color and looks so delicious. I usually add tarragon to the mix, but that’s only because I’m a tarragon addict… :)

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 12:06 PM - Reply

      Right. I think I remember that. It’s kind of too sweet for me, but I’m sure it was in the original recipe I used for inspiration.

  8. LetsCurry April 22, 2020 at 12:01 PM - Reply

    This dressing and assembling is truly Labour of love for food. It looks amazing and I’m going by your suggestion to follow the recipe as It is to copy the result, Hope it tastes the same. Thanks for an amazing recipe.

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 12:04 PM - Reply

      It will! It will definitely taste the same. I rarely rarely follow a recipe, but this one is perfect! Enjoy!

  9. Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons April 22, 2020 at 12:02 PM - Reply

    Very pretty for company! I’m saving this one for when my basil is available, it’s only 1 cm high right now.

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 12:24 PM - Reply

      Right… I planted mine and they froze. Dammit.

  10. Karen (Back Road Journal) April 22, 2020 at 12:13 PM - Reply

    Green Goddess has always been one of my favorite salad dressings. Drizzled over your beautiful spring composed salad, it really is a feast for the eyes!

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 12:25 PM - Reply

      Thank you! I love how green it is! I love green!!!

  11. Mary April 22, 2020 at 3:45 PM - Reply

    I really like making store bought Mayonnaise into something that tastes like you actually want to eat it. This is looking good – it’s the anchovies I’m sure that pep it up. My Basil is coming to an end but there is enough to make this. Also Tarragon as Ronit mentioned sounds a good addition as well.
    Thankyou Mimi for this lovely dressing/dip – will be on for lunch today. :))

    • chef mimi April 22, 2020 at 4:55 PM - Reply

      It’s so good. I am just not a huge tarragon fan, but if you are it would go well with the others. Dill, also.

  12. cookingontheweekends April 22, 2020 at 11:55 PM - Reply

    Such a pretty salad, Mimi — like a painting. I love a main course salad like this. I will triple the dressing to have some on hand after the salad. Yum. :-) ~Valentina

    • chef mimi April 23, 2020 at 6:46 AM - Reply

      Good idea. It’s really good, and as someone suggested it could be a dip as well!

  13. Tandy | Lavender and Lime April 23, 2020 at 12:37 AM - Reply

    Your salad looks amazing. I love making this dressing but don’t do it often enough. I had never heard of the play either.

    • chef mimi April 23, 2020 at 6:46 AM - Reply

      Me neither! I tend to gravitate towards oil and vinegar, but green goddess is wonderful!

  14. 2pots2cook April 23, 2020 at 8:14 AM - Reply

    We love anchovies and I believe they give so special flavours to this dressing ! Beautiful photos Mimi !

    • chef mimi April 23, 2020 at 8:15 AM - Reply

      I think you’re right! Plus all the herby flavors of course also.

  15. David Scott Allen April 23, 2020 at 10:44 AM - Reply

    Even as a child, I loved Green Goddess. I’m sure my mother was suspect! This looks so good and fresh, and we crave salads more than anything these days.

    • chef mimi April 23, 2020 at 10:54 AM - Reply

      It’s finally warm outside! But I eat salads year round in any case. I love that flower you have!!!

  16. gerlinde April 23, 2020 at 2:40 PM - Reply

    I love any kind of green sauce and I will get basil on my next shopping trip to make this salad. Do you put the anchovies in the dressing or on the salad?

    • chef mimi April 23, 2020 at 3:33 PM - Reply

      The anchovies are in the dressing. I’m with you on the green sauces!

  17. Eva Taylor April 23, 2020 at 2:43 PM - Reply

    What a thoroughly lovely salad, so perfect that I’d say it was company-worthy. I have yet to try green goddess dressing and this salad seems like the perfect delivery method.

    • chef mimi April 23, 2020 at 3:32 PM - Reply

      It was a great salad for the herby dressing. I hope you get a chance to make it. And it makes a good dip!

  18. cookingwithauntjuju.com April 25, 2020 at 6:12 AM - Reply

    Beautiful and I will make when I get my herb plants growing – so much better with fresh. The nurseries are now open in my state starting today but I will wait awhile longer :)

    • chef mimi April 25, 2020 at 12:02 PM - Reply

      I know what you mean. I went the other day and it was full! So I passed.

  19. The Gourmet Gourmand April 26, 2020 at 1:24 AM - Reply

    I’ve actually never made green goddess dressing before, but I’ve always wanted to! Going to have to test this out… your salad looks beautiful!

    • chef mimi April 26, 2020 at 7:03 AM - Reply

      Thanks. This recipe, to me, is perfect. You can always add dill and tarragon as well, but i prefer the herbs my way, as they are in the recipe.

  20. Frank Fariello April 26, 2020 at 7:26 AM - Reply

    This dressing actually sounds really nice. I say “actually” since my only exposure has been to the bottled variety and, well, it wasn’t my thing, I’m usually a minimalist when it comes to dressing salads, but this is tempting.

    • chef mimi April 26, 2020 at 7:33 AM - Reply

      I agree on all counts. Nothing beats a basic vinaigrette. But this one is fresh, and of course probably nothing like bottled versions.

  21. sippitysup April 26, 2020 at 12:40 PM - Reply

    And here I thought avocado was the key ingredient! GREG

    • chef mimi April 26, 2020 at 3:23 PM - Reply

      I’ve seen them used in GG dressing but really, what a waste of an avocado. I think. I’d much rather have them in a salad, and then use the GG! That’s just me. But I don’t think an avocado is supposed to be in GG.

  22. Angela@eatlivehappy April 26, 2020 at 10:03 PM - Reply

    What a gorgeous salad! The dressing sounds fantastic too.

    • chef mimi April 27, 2020 at 6:48 AM - Reply

      Thanks, Angela. It is a perfect recipe in my mind!

  23. sherry May 12, 2020 at 2:46 AM - Reply

    that dressing sounds incredibly tasty mimi. i must give that a go next time we have salad – in about 6 months:-) Winter is almost upon us now…

    • chef mimi May 12, 2020 at 6:32 AM - Reply

      Oh goodness. That sounds good to me even though it’s been strangely cold here. I’m ready for my tomatoes to grow!

  24. Net Manning May 15, 2020 at 2:39 PM - Reply

    The recipe looks delicious

    • chef mimi May 15, 2020 at 5:06 PM - Reply

      Thanks, it was a delicious dressing!

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