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Eat Beautifully

Salads

Spring Green Goddess Salad

March 24, 2022
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Light, bright, and packed with spring’s best produce, this spring green goddess salad is full of nutrition – microbiome supporting fiber, and lots of hydration. This spring salad recipe is tossed with an oil-free, herby mint and basil avocado dressing to help your body better absorb all the nutrients in the salad. I call this my spring green goddess salad because after a few days of eating it, you’ll be glowing like a goddess!

Close up of green goddess salad with asparagus, radishes, mint, zucchini, peas and butter lettuce with a fork with an asparagus spear.

Green Spring Salad Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this spring salad recipe:

  • Asparagus – I steam them for no more than 5 minutes until it’s just slightly tender but still bright green. Once you are done steaming, plunge them in ice cold water to stop the cooking.
  • Peas – Fresh peas are in-season and super sweet. Truthfully, I almost always use thawed frozen peas, but blanched fresh peas would be equally tasty.
  • Zucchini – While technically these come into season in the summer, they are readily available. Here the zucchini are ribboned and tossed with a pinch of salt and lemon juice.
  • Radishes – For crunch and a pop of pink! I think pickled radishes would taste great too.
  • Salad Greens – Any tender spring greens would be good. For this I used butterhead.
  • Broccoli Microgreens – You may be tempted to skip these but don’t! You can read more below about why these are extremely powerful little plants.
  • Avocado – Provides the basis for the oil-free dressing. The fat in the avocado helps you digest and absorb all the nutrients in the salad.
  • Fresh herbs – Mint and basil are in the dressing and I reserve extra mint for the salad.
  • Lemons – Lemons provide the necessary acid for the dressing. Lemon juice is also tossed with the zucchini.
Green goddess salad with butter lettuce, radishes, mint, asparagus, peas, zucchini ribbons with a small dish of vegan avocado green goddess dressing a mint.

A Note About Broccoli Microgreens

Lately I’ve been throwing these broccoli microgreens into everything including this spring green goddess salad. Why? These cute little “baby broccoli” greens are seriously powerful!

Broccoli microgreens are baby broccoli plants that are harvested about 10 days after germination. Studies have shown that broccoli microgreens can have up to 40 times the amount of vitamins and minerals than their mature counterparts.

But why you really should be eating broccoli microgreens is because they contain the highest amount of sulforaphane available compared to almost any other food available. Sulforaphane is a sulphur compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, bok choy and cabbage and is known for:

  • Anti-aging
  • Fighting inflammation
  • Cancer prevention
  • Improved digestion
  • Improved heart health

Throw them into salads, smoothies and stir frys to get your daily dose!

Spring Green Goddess Salad Variations

This salad recipe had so many possibilities. Here are some of my favorite variations:

  • Add nuts or seeds. Toasted almonds, walnuts, hemp or pepitas would both taste delicious and add extra plant power!
  • Make a spinach salad. If you can get your hands on tender baby spinach, this asparagus, pea, and radish salad is a perfect way to use it.
  • Add an extra pop of pink. Top the salad with pickled red onions or pickled radishes.
  • Add garbanzo beans. Cooked or crunchy would taste fantastic.
  • Add additional protein. This salad would taste great with a lemon-marinated grilled chicken or shrimp.
Plate of a mixed spring green goddess salad with asparagus, peas, butter lettuce, mint, radishes, broccoli micro greens

More Favorite Salads

Here are some additional salads to add to your rotation this spring which are full of nutrition to help you eat more beautifully!

  • Spinach Almond Glow Salad
  • Quinoa Asparagus Salad with Zucchini and Baby Spinach
Print

Spring Green Goddess Salad

Close up of green goddess salad with asparagus, radishes, mint, zucchini, peas and butter lettuce with a fork with an asparagus spear.
Print Recipe

Light and packed with spring produce, this spring green goddess salad is packed with nutrition – microbiome-supporting fiber, skin-hydrating vegetables and anti-aging greens. 

  • Author: Jeannine
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

Scale

For the salad: 

  • 1 large zucchini, ribboned
  • 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed and steamed
  • 1/2 cup peas (thawed if frozen or blanched if fresh) 
  • 1 12 oz clamshell of butterhead lettuce, cleaned and rinsed
  • 3 radishes, sliced
  • 1 cup broccoli microgreens 

For the dressing: 

  • 1 large ripe avocado
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup mint leaves, packed
  • 1/4 cup basil leaves, packed
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (juice from 1/2 large lemon)
  • 1/2 cup ice cold water

Instructions

  1. Using a peeler, peel zucchini into ribbons. Toss with 1 teaspoon of the fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Let marinate while preparing the rest of the salad. 
  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and prepare a bowl of ice water. Steam asparagus for 5 minutes until the asparagus is still bright green but tender. Transfer to ice bath. Drain and pat until dry.
  3. If using fresh peas, bring a pot of water to a boil and prepare the ice bath. Boil the peas for 2 minutes and then transfer to ice bath. After a minute, drain and pat until dry. 
  4. While the asparagus (and or peas) are being cooked, prepare the dressing. Add the garlic cloves and herbs to a food processor and pulse until herbs and garlic are minced. Add the avocado, salt and lemon juice and continue to pulse until well combined. Add the cold ice water and combine until everything is well combined and you’ve reached the consistency of a pourable dressing. 
  5. Assemble the salad. In a large bowl add the lettuce and radishes and 2 tablespoons of dressing. Mix well. 
  6. Add the asparagus, peas, zucchini ribbons and microgreens. Add additional dressing and toppings as desired. Season to taste with more salt and pepper. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 recipe

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Hi, I’m Jeannine
Hi, I’m Jeannine

Hi, I’m Jeannine

I'm a certified health and wellness coach with a passion for cooking and photographing beautiful, colorful, healthy food. I provide healthy plant-forward recipe inspiration for those who want to look and feel their healthiest from the inside out. I'm so glad you stopped by!

Categories

  • Breakfast
  • Dressings & Sauces
  • Drinks
  • Healthy Living
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads
  • Sweets & Snacks
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Muscle grows anywhere from 5 to 30 reps, as long as you finish within 1 to 3 reps of failure. Burning and shaking feel strenuous but isn't enough to build muscle. If you could do eight more, go heavier. Lifting to failure means you can’t do another rep without your form breaking down. 3. Doing mostly combo moves instead of compound lifts. A compound lift moves more than one joint and works several muscles at once: squats, deadlifts, rows, push-ups, overhead presses. A combo stacks two moves together, like a squat into an overhead press. The weight is capped by what your shoulders can press, so your legs never get challenged enough. Do them separately and go heavier on each for a more effective workout. 4. Skipping recovery.
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Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
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Follow
Tell me: Which slide felt like a personal attack? You’ve spent most of your adult life believing that if something isn't working, you can figure it out. Research more. Work harder. Find a better solution. And honestly? That approach has probably served you pretty well. Until your 40s. Suddenly, the things that used to work aren't delivering the same results. Your body is changing, your schedule is packed, and you're trying to figure out why you're putting in so much effort without seeing the progress you expect. So you do what you've always done. You double down. But here's what I've learned: More effort isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need a different strategy. One that accounts for what's changing in your body AND the reality of your life. That means knowing when to push and when to recover. Having a nutrition plan that works on Wednesday at 6 PM, not just Sunday afternoon. And understanding which habits actually move the needle instead of trying to do everything. Because the goal isn't to become less ambitious. It's to bring that ambition to your health in a smarter way. Follow @livepowerfullyco for a more strategic approach to health in midlife.
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