Dairy-Free Green Goddess Sauce With Avocado, Cashews, Spinach, and Fresh Herbs

Green Goddess sauce has earned its reputation as one of the most iconic herb-based dressings in modern cooking. Known for its vivid green color and unmistakable freshness, it brings life to salads, bowls, roasted vegetables, wraps, and grain dishes. This dairy-free version maintains the classic vibrancy while relying on whole, plant-based ingredients for creaminess, depth, and complexity.

A combination of fresh dill, basil, cilantro, parsley, spinach, green onions, ripe avocado, soaked cashews, garlic, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar produces a silky, nutrient-dense sauce that remains both rich and refreshing. A small amount of aquafaba mayo provides lightness and emulsification, resulting in a smooth, pourable texture suitable for dressing, dipping, or drizzling.

Every element in this recipe contributes something essential. The herbs add layered brightness. The avocado and cashews offer body without heaviness. The apple cider vinegar and lemon juice balance the creaminess with acidity. The green onions and garlic build savory undertones. The spinach enhances the color and provides additional nutrition while allowing the herbs to shine. The final result is a balanced, flavorful Green Goddess sauce that elevates any dish it accompanies.

The Flavor Profile

This Green Goddess sauce stands out because of its nuanced combination of herbs, aromatics, and creamy plant-based elements.

Fresh dill adds a soft, sweet herbaceousness that brightens the overall blend. Cilantro contributes citrus-like freshness, while parsley brings a light grassy note that adds structure without overwhelming the other flavors. Basil provides a subtle aromatic warmth that rounds out the herbal base.

Spinach deepens the green color and incorporates additional nutrients—all without affecting the sauce’s flavor. Green onions offer a gentle sharpness, complementing the richness of the avocado and cashews. Garlic introduces savory depth.

The acidity in this recipe comes from both lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, providing a dual-layer tang that cuts through the richness and balances the herbs. Aquafaba mayo lends creaminess and helps emulsify the ingredients into a smooth, cohesive texture.

Together, these components create a sauce that is herb-forward, creamy, tangy, and perfectly balanced.

Ingredients for the Green Goddess Sauce

This dressing uses only whole, recognizable ingredients:

• Fresh dill

• Fresh cilantro

• Fresh parsley

• Fresh basil

• A handful of fresh spinach

• Green onions

• Raw cashews, soaked

• Ripe avocado

• Aquafaba-based mayo

• Lemon juice

• Apple cider vinegar

• Garlic

• Salt

• Black pepper

• Water, as needed for thinning

This lineup creates a creamy, nutrient-rich sauce free of dairy, refined oils, and additives.

How to Make the Sauce

1. Soften the cashews

Raw cashews should be soaked in hot water for 10–15 minutes. This softening process ensures a silky, cream-like consistency once blended.

2. Prepare the herbs and greens

Dill, cilantro, parsley, basil, and spinach should be rinsed and loosely chopped. The goal is simply to make them easier to blend while maintaining their fresh flavor.

3. Add the aromatics

Green onions and garlic contribute gentle sharpness and savory depth. Rough chopping is sufficient.

4. Combine the base ingredients

A ripe avocado is added for creaminess, healthy fats, and a smooth body. Aquafaba mayo introduces a lightly tangy richness and helps bind the mixture.

5. Add acidity

Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar bring brightness and balance the creamy components, ensuring the sauce tastes fresh rather than heavy.

6. Blend until smooth

All ingredients are added to a high-speed blender. Water is incorporated gradually until the desired texture is achieved—typically a pourable, velvety consistency.

7. Taste and adjust

Salt and black pepper are added to round out the flavors. Acidity or water may be adjusted depending on preference.

8. Chill and store

After blending, the sauce can be refrigerated for several hours to allow flavors to meld. It continues to thicken slightly as it chills.

Texture and Consistency

This Green Goddess sauce blends into a smooth, creamy mixture that is easy to spoon or pour. Cashews create natural thickness, while aquafaba mayo and avocado generate a silky finish. The water level determines whether the final result is a thick dip or a thinner dressing.

Because of the high proportion of fresh herbs and spinach, the sauce retains a bright green color that remains vibrant for several days when refrigerated.

Nutritional Benefits

Beyond flavor, this dressing delivers a concentrated dose of nutritional value:

• Dill, parsley, cilantro, and basil provide vitamins A, C, and K along with beneficial antioxidants.

• Spinach contributes iron, folate, and phytonutrients.

• Avocado offers heart-healthy fats and fiber.

• Cashews contain plant-based protein and minerals such as magnesium and zinc.

• Garlic and green onions support immune function and digestive health.

• Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar provide natural acidity and trace nutrients.

The overall profile is nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory, and aligned with whole-food, plant-forward eating.

Ways to Use This Green Goddess Sauce

This sauce functions well as a multipurpose staple in everyday cooking:

• As a salad dressing

• Spoon over Buddha bowls or nourish bowls

• Drizzle on roasted or air-fried vegetables

• Add to grain bowls with quinoa or rice

• Spread on wraps or sandwiches

• Serve as a dip for raw vegetables

• Use as a finishing sauce for tofu, chickpeas, or plant-based proteins

• Add a spoonful to soups for added richness

Its versatility makes it ideal for meal prep or for elevating quick weekday meals.

Storage

The dressing keeps well in a sealed container for 4–5 days in the refrigerator. The acidity from lemon and apple cider vinegar helps preserve freshness and color. If the sauce thickens over time, a small splash of water can restore the original consistency.

Creamy Dairy-Free Green Goddess Sauce (Recipe Card)

Ingredients

• Fresh dill

• Fresh cilantro

• Fresh parsley

• Fresh basil

• 1 handful spinach

• 2–3 green onions

• ½ cup raw cashews, soaked

• 1 ripe avocado

• ¼–⅓ cup aquafaba mayo

• 1 clove garlic

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1–2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

• Salt to taste

• Black pepper to taste

• Water as needed

Instructions

1. Soak cashews in hot water for 10–15 minutes.

2. Rinse and roughly chop herbs and spinach.

3. Chop green onions and garlic.

4. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender with a small amount of water.

5. Blend until smooth, adding water gradually to reach a pourable consistency.

6. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Refrigerate to thicken and allow flavors to develop.

I’ll create the aquafaba mayo recipe in a few days.