Blog
Darlene Murphy
September 15, 2025
You're staring down a beautiful salad, wondering which dressing is going to take those fresh greens to a whole new level. We’ve all been there.
At Forage Kitchen, we witness this delicious dilemma at our Build Your Own Station every day. Two house favorites have risen to the top crowd-pleasers: Thai Cashew and Avocado Green Goddess.
What makes these dressings so great? We're going to get to the heart of the matter, examining their flavor, nutrition, and versatility. By the end, you’ll feel like an expert in choosing the dressing that suits your taste buds.
Before we dive into nutrition and pairings, let’s get to know the real stars of this debate. Each dressing brings its own story, flavor, and personality to the table, and understanding what sets them apart makes choosing your favorite that much more fun.
Thai Cashew brings a Southeast-Asian spin to the bowl: creamy and nut-forward with a bright hit of citrus and umami. Our version is made with cashews, tamari, rice wine vinegar, a touch of honey, and warm ginger and garlic. It’s rich and smooth, so it plays beautifully with hearty bases.
Besides flavor, the texture is what we love about Thai Cashew. It is smooth and velvety, coating each grain of rice with richness. We enjoy pairing it with hearty ingredients like our organic black rice, roasted sweet potatoes, and chickpeas, creating something that feels indulgent but is still wholesome.
Green goddess dressing has quite a story. Originally created in the 1920s at San Francisco's Palace Hotel, this herb-packed sauce was named after a popular play of the time. Our version stays true to the original spirit with our own fresh twist.
We blend creamy avocado with fresh parsley, cilantro, green onion, and garlic, brightened by lemon and apple cider vinegar, then finish with a touch of oil. The result? A vibrant, emerald-green dressing that’s tangy, herbaceous, and full of fresh flavor. Customers often tell us it makes them actually crave salads.
Flavor aside, many guests also ask which dressing is the healthier choice. Here’s how they compare.
Both dressings offer impressive benefits, albeit in different ways.
Thai Cashew delivers heart-healthy unsaturated fats from cashews and a savory-sweet profile from tamari and honey.
Spicy Green Goddess, with avocado and fresh herbs, delivers healthy fats, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories.
Thai Cashew is gluten-free and packed with flavor, but contains tree nuts and honey, so it’s not vegan and must be flagged for nut allergies. If you need a vegan alternative, consider Salsa Roja or a nut-free vinaigrette.
Spicy Green Goddess is dairy-free, making it both vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Its creamy texture comes from avocado. Many of our health-focused guests appreciate that it delivers fresh, vibrant flavor without compromising their dietary preferences. Our toppings can always be adjusted to fit your needs.
Because a great dressing isn’t just about taste; it’s about how well it pairs with what’s in your bowl or wrap.
Thai Cashew shines with hearty, warming ingredients. Guests gravitate toward it when building bowls with our organic black rice, roasted vegetables, and legumes. The dressing's cashew creaminess complements the caramelized edges and brings balance.
Beyond salads, this dressing works as a wrap spread or mixed into grain-based salads. Many customers also use it at home as a dip for roasted vegetables. Because of its tamari and citrus notes, it pairs exceptionally well with mildly spicy or umami-rich toppings (think roasted carrots or marinated tofu).
This bright, zesty dressing loves fresh, crisp ingredients. It's perfect over mixed greens, especially with crunchy additions like cucumber, radishes, or bell peppers. The herbs and creamy avocado blend make it ideal for our seasonal vegetables.
Guests choose Green Goddess when they want something light yet flavorful. It's also fantastic as a vegetable dip or wrap spread.
Thai Cashew lovers tend to like bold comfort; you want something rich and a little exotic, with layers of sweet, savory, and citrus. If this is your go-to, you appreciate nourishing, grounding foods. You're drawn to rich, nutty flavors and meals that feel like a warm hug.
Spicy Green Goddess fans are bold. You're not afraid of heat, and you love foods that wake up your senses. Fresh, vibrant flavors appeal to you, and you enjoy trying new combinations.
Many guests are in both camps, switching based on mood or cravings.
Here's where you can try both dressings made fresh with quality ingredients in Wisconsin.
We make Avocado Green Goddess fresh in-house using quality, local ingredients. You'll find it at our Build Your Own Bowl, where you can sample before deciding.
What makes our versions special is the attention to balance. We've found the right heat level for our Green Goddess. It complements our menu beautifully.
In our minds, a great salad dressing should never overwhelm fresh ingredients; it should enhance them. These dressings are crafted to pair seamlessly with our seasonal features, using clean, recognizable ingredients.
So how do you decide?
The truth is, both dressings have their place in a balanced eating routine. Guests often choose based on the season, their energy level, or simply what they're craving.
Both Thai Cashew and Spicy Green Goddess bring something unique. The Thai Cashew offers rich, nutty comfort that pairs with heartier ingredients, while the avocado green goddess provides bright, fresh flavors that make vegetables sing.
We encourage you to experiment with both and see how they work with different ingredients. Sometimes the best meals come from trying something new or switching up your usual order.
Having options means you never have to choose just one. Whether you're drawn to the creamy richness of sesame or the zesty kick of fresh herbs, there's a salad dressing here that will make your meal exactly what you need.
Ready to settle the debate for yourself? Come try both at Forage Kitchen and let your taste buds be the judge. We're confident that whichever you choose, you'll be coming back for more.
Darlene is the co-owner of Forage and an expert in restaurant and food marketing, brand development, and public relations for small businesses. She specializes in creating compelling marketing materials, including ad copy, websites, and catalogs, to help brands connect with their audience.
