This post is sponsored by Aunt Nellie’s. All opinions are my own.
Experience the Freshness: Green Goddess Beet Salad with Homemade Dressing
Embrace the vibrant flavors of the season with this incredibly easy and delicious Green Goddess Beet Salad. Perfect for any gathering, especially a cozy “girls’ night in” or a refreshing summer meal, this salad is a true celebration of fresh produce and zesty herbs. The star of the show is undoubtedly the creamy, herbaceous Green Goddess dressing, meticulously crafted with a blend of tarragon, chives, parsley, and bright lemon. This isn’t just a salad; it’s an experience your entire family will adore, promising a burst of flavor in every bite.
As spring unfurls its gentle warmth and summer beckons with longer days, there’s a natural urge to step out of hibernation and savor lighter, more colorful dishes. While the full swing of summer might still be a whisper away, the present moment is perfect for creating memorable experiences right at home. A “girls’ night in,” for instance, offers the ideal setting to unwind, connect, and indulge in delightful food and drinks without the fuss of going out. When I host such an event, my culinary focus always shifts towards fresh, visually appealing, and utterly delicious food that caters to a craving for wholesome goodness.
This desire for fresh, colorful vegetables led me to partner with Aunt Nellie’s to bring you this spectacular Green Goddess Beet Salad. Aunt Nellie’s beets are a game-changer for busy cooks, found conveniently in the jarred and canned vegetable aisle of supermarkets nationwide. They deliver exceptional flavor and quality, without any of the time-consuming peeling, cooking, or pickling that fresh beets require. This saves precious time, allowing you to focus on assembling a stunning salad that looks as good as it tastes.
This particular salad combines the earthy sweetness of sliced beets with a base of tender mixed greens, creamy sliced avocado, crunchy almonds, and savory feta cheese. Each ingredient is thoughtfully selected to create a symphony of textures and flavors, all brought together by the irresistible Green Goddess salad dressing. The convenience of Aunt Nellie’s beets ensures that even on your busiest days, you can create a gourmet-quality meal that’s both nutritious and satisfying.
To complement this vibrant dish, consider pairing it with a refreshing beverage like a Beet Margarita. This unique cocktail adds another layer of color and earthy sweetness, perfectly balancing the herbaceous notes of the salad. You can find the full recipe for the margarita on our blog to complete your culinary experience.
Table of Contents
What is Green Goddess Salad Dressing?
Green Goddess dressing is a culinary classic renowned for its vibrant emerald hue and rich, complex flavor profile. The “green goddess” moniker comes from its striking color, which is primarily derived from a generous infusion of fresh herbs like parsley and tarragon. Beyond its appearance, this dressing is celebrated for its creamy texture and a harmonious balance of savory, tangy, and fresh notes that elevate any salad from simple greens to an extraordinary culinary delight. It’s a versatile dressing that can transform ordinary ingredients into something truly special.
The Origins and Evolution of Green Goddess Dressing
The history of Green Goddess dressing dates back to the 1920s, originating at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Legend has it that the chef, Philip Roemer, created the dressing for a theatrical star, George Arliss, who was staying at the hotel and starring in a play called “The Green Goddess.” The dressing was designed to be a lighter, more vibrant alternative to the classic French vinaigrette, featuring a blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, anchovies (though often omitted or substituted in modern versions), parsley, tarragon, and lemon juice. Over the decades, its popularity has endured, becoming a beloved staple in American cuisine, often adapted to suit contemporary tastes while retaining its core herbaceous character.
How to Make Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Crafting this exquisite dressing is surprisingly simple, requiring just a few fresh ingredients and a blender or food processor. The key is to use fresh herbs to achieve that iconic vibrant color and potent flavor. To make the dressing, combine fresh parsley, tarragon, the juice of a fresh lemon, creamy mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, chopped chives, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Process all these ingredients together for about 45 seconds, or until the mixture becomes wonderfully smooth and creamy. The result is a lush, emerald-green dressing that is both refreshing and deeply satisfying, providing the perfect counterpoint to the salad’s other components.
Why Aunt Nellie’s Beets? Convenience Meets Quality
In this Green Goddess Beet Salad, Aunt Nellie’s sliced beets play a crucial role, not just for their rich color and flavor but also for their unparalleled convenience. Traditional beet preparation can be quite messy and time-consuming, involving boiling, peeling, and slicing. Aunt Nellie’s eliminates all these steps, providing ready-to-use, perfectly cooked, and sliced beets right from the jar. This means you can whip up this elegant salad in minutes, making it ideal for impromptu gatherings or busy weeknights. Despite the convenience, Aunt Nellie’s maintains exceptional quality, ensuring that the beets retain their natural sweetness and firm texture, without any artificial flavors or preservatives. They are a wholesome and practical choice that allows you to enjoy the nutritional benefits and delicious taste of beets with minimal effort.
The Health Benefits of Your Green Goddess Beet Salad
This Green Goddess Beet Salad is not just a treat for the taste buds but also a powerhouse of nutrition. Each ingredient contributes a unique array of health benefits:
- Beets: Rich in essential vitamins and minerals like folate, manganese, potassium, and Vitamin C. They are also packed with powerful antioxidants, which may help reduce inflammation and protect against chronic diseases. Beets are known for their naturally occurring nitrates, which can help improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.
- Mixed Greens & Spinach: A fantastic source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate and iron. These leafy greens are low in calories but high in fiber, aiding digestion and promoting a feeling of fullness.
- Avocado: A healthy fat hero, avocados provide monounsaturated fatty acids that are good for heart health. They are also rich in fiber, potassium, and vitamins K, C, B5, B6, and E, contributing to overall well-being and a creamy texture to the salad.
- Almonds: These crunchy nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium, and Vitamin E. They add a satisfying crunch and a boost of nutrients that support brain health and provide sustained energy.
- Feta Cheese: While enjoyed in moderation, feta offers calcium for bone health and a burst of savory flavor.
- Fresh Herbs (Parsley, Tarragon, Chives): Beyond their flavor, these herbs contain various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, contributing to the dressing’s vibrant profile and offering subtle health benefits.
Together, these ingredients create a wholesome, balanced, and incredibly flavorful meal that nourishes your body while delighting your senses.
Green Goddess Beet Salad Recipe
Green Goddess Beet Salad
By Brandi Crawford
This quick and easy Green Goddess Salad with its rich, herbaceous dressing is a perfect choice for a refreshing summer meal or a delightful “girls’ night in.” The dressing is bursting with the fresh flavors of tarragon, chives, parsley, and zesty lemon. It’s a healthy, vibrant salad that the whole family will love.
Pin Recipe
- Prep Time
- 15 mins
- Total Time
- 15 mins
- Course
- Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
- Cuisine
- American
- Servings
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 3 cups fresh mixed greens
- 1 jar Aunt Nellie’s sliced beets, drained
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
For the Green Goddess Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- **Prepare the Dressing:** In a blender or food processor, combine all the Green Goddess Salad Dressing ingredients (mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, tarragon, chives, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper). Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- **Assemble the Base:** In a large serving bowl or on a decorative platter, layer and gently mix the fresh spinach and mixed greens.
- **Add Toppings:** Arrange the drained sliced beets, creamy avocado slices, and crumbled feta cheese evenly over the greens.
- **Garnish and Serve:** Sprinkle the sliced almonds over the salad for added crunch. Drizzle generously with the freshly made Green Goddess dressing just before serving. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture!
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is typically calculated using resources like MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information for your specific recipe, we recommend calculating it with the actual ingredients you use and your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information you rely upon is accurate, complete, and useful.
Tips and Variations for Your Green Goddess Salad
- **Make Ahead:** While the salad is best assembled fresh, you can prepare the Green Goddess dressing up to 3-4 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This makes last-minute meal prep a breeze.
- **Add Protein:** For a more substantial meal, consider adding grilled chicken, pan-seared salmon, hard-boiled eggs, or chickpeas to your salad.
- **Vegetable Additions:** Feel free to customize your salad with other favorite vegetables such as cucumber, cherry tomatoes, radishes, or bell peppers for extra crunch and color.
- **Herb Flexibility:** If you can’t find fresh tarragon, you can use a smaller amount of dried tarragon (about 1 teaspoon) or experiment with other fresh herbs like dill or basil for a slightly different flavor profile.
- **Nut Alternatives:** If almonds aren’t your preference, walnuts or pecans make excellent substitutes, offering similar healthy fats and satisfying crunch.
- **Dressing Consistency:** If you prefer a thinner dressing, add a tablespoon of water or milk at a time while blending until your desired consistency is reached.
Enter to Win Aunt Nellie’s Sweepstakes!
Exciting news! Our friends at Aunt Nellie’s are hosting a fantastic sweepstakes! You could win a Family Pack of their wonderful products PLUS a generous $900 Visa gift card. Imagine all the delicious meals you could create! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Click here to enter the sweepstakes today and use the hashtag #ANBeetWeek when sharing your excitement!
This Green Goddess Beet Salad is more than just a recipe; it’s an invitation to enjoy fresh, wholesome food with ease and style. Whether you’re hosting a special evening or simply seeking a vibrant meal for yourself, this salad promises flavor, nutrition, and pure culinary delight. We hope you enjoy preparing and sharing it as much as we do!
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