About This Recipe

The green goddess salad became the most viewed salad recipe on TikTok for a simple reason: it looks stunning, tastes incredible, and takes 15 minutes to make. Finely shredded green cabbage — not lettuce, cabbage, which holds its crunch for hours — is tossed with fresh cucumbers, chives, basil, and parsley in a creamy, vibrantly green tahini-herb dressing. The dressing is blended from fresh herbs, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil until it turns a gorgeous deep green with an herby, tangy, nutty flavor that is genuinely addictive. At 145 calories per serving, it is one of the most satisfying low-calorie salads you can make.

Nutrition estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. Values are per serving and may vary.

Why You'll Love It

  • 15 minutes total — the fastest impressive salad you can make
  • Cabbage base stays crispy for hours — make ahead friendly
  • 145 calories per serving — exceptional for the volume and satisfaction
  • Vegan, gluten-free, and endlessly customizable with protein add-ins

Viral Green Goddess Salad

Green goddess salad with vibrant green dressing and fresh herbs
15 min
Prep
0 min
Cook
15 min
Total
4
Servings
⭐ 4.9
Rating
145
Calories

Ingredients

  • ½ green cabbage, shredded
  • 1 English cucumber, diced
  • Fresh chives, basil, parsley
  • 3 green onions
  • Dressing: ½ cup tahini
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 cup fresh mixed herbs

Instructions

  1. 1Shred cabbage as thin as possible.
  2. 2Add cucumber, herbs, green onion.
  3. 3Blend dressing until vibrantly green.
  4. 4Toss salad with dressing.
  5. 5Taste and adjust lemon + salt.
  6. 6Serve immediately or chill 1–2 hrs.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Shred the cabbage paper-thin

    Cut the cabbage into quarters and remove the tough core. Using your sharpest knife, shred the cabbage as thinly as humanly possible — the thinner, the better. Ultra-thin cabbage has a much more delicate texture than thick shreds and holds the dressing more evenly. A mandoline slicer set to 1–2mm gives perfect results in seconds, but a sharp knife works well too. Place the shredded cabbage in a large mixing bowl.

  2. 2

    Prep and add the fresh ingredients

    Dice the cucumber into small, roughly ½-inch cubes. Roughly chop the chives, basil, parsley, and green onions. Add everything to the bowl with the cabbage. The combination of these specific herbs is what gives the salad its characteristic green goddess flavor — do not skip any of them if you can help it. Fresh herbs are non-negotiable here; dried herbs will not work.

  3. 3

    Blend the green goddess dressing

    Add the tahini, lemon juice, water, olive oil, garlic clove, fresh mixed herbs (basil, parsley, chives), salt, and pepper to a blender. Blend on high for 60 seconds until completely smooth and the dressing turns a vivid, deep green color. Taste the dressing — it should be tangy, creamy, herby, and bright. Add more lemon juice if too flat, more water if too thick, more salt if needed. The dressing should be pourable but thick enough to coat the cabbage.

  4. 4

    Dress and serve

    Pour about half the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly. Add more dressing until the cabbage is well-coated but not drowning in it. The leftover dressing stores in the fridge for 5 days and is excellent on everything. Taste the dressed salad and add a small pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon if needed. Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate up to 2 hours for a chilled salad — the cabbage holds its crunch far longer than lettuce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Three things: the cabbage base (stays crispy for hours, unlike lettuce), the ultra-fresh herb-packed dressing (blended from scratch until vibrantly green), and the sheer volume of fresh herbs mixed into the salad itself. It is more of an herb salad than a cabbage salad — the herbs are the star, not a garnish.
Yes — the dressing keeps in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Whisk in a splash of water to loosen before using. The green color fades slightly after day one but the flavor actually deepens and improves over time.
Grilled chicken, baked salmon, hard-boiled eggs, crispy chickpeas, or edamame all pair perfectly. The creamy green goddess dressing works as a sauce over the protein as well as a salad dressing. Add protein on top and drizzle extra dressing over everything.

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Nutrition Per Serving

145
Calories
5g
Protein
12g
Carbs
10g
Fat
4g
Fiber
5g
Sugar
180mg
Sodium
380mg
Potassium

Nutrition estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. Values are per serving and may vary.