This is the recipe I get asked for the most!
Ugh store bought Ranch! Why can’t you taste as good as I remember you as a child? I stopped buying Ranch dressing a long time ago, even before I starting making different food choices just because it didn’t taste right anymore! I later learned it is because they started adding gross stuff like GMO Soy Bean/Canola Oil, MSG, Xanthan Gum, dyes and a lot of them are not gluten free. To the last point, I am not trying to avoid gluten but why would there be any in a salad dressing? Hello!? Go look that stuff up if you haven't. They say ignorance is bliss but being informed makes you powerful because you now have the power to choose!
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou
When I started to get serious about swapping out worse choices for better choices in the kitchen several years ago, I started with condiments, sauces and dressings. Condiments like Ketchup and Mustard were fairly easy to switch out because you can find great organic versions of these. I started making my own vinaigrettes because they are just so simple to whip together!
Creamy dressings like Buttermilk Ranch (my fave) were a different story. I knew how to make one that was super simple but to actually recreate a Ranch or Blue Cheese like dressing, which seemed very difficult. Plus the store bought ones just are not cutting the mustard (see what I did there?) on ingredients.
A couple of years ago we were visiting my bf’s brother and wife along with their kids and she made homemade Buttermilk Ranch! I was mesmerized because she is just a wiz in the kitchen, cooking with great skill but with a ton of love. But also what she did was simple! Of course I got that recipe immediately. When we returned from our trip I started messing with the recipe to make it my own. And yes, I do put essential oils in it! This is my favorite dressing recipe hands down!
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Ingredients:
-1/4 Cup Mayo
-1/2 Cup Buttermilk
-8 TBLS Whole Milk Sour Cream
-2 TBLS fresh squeezed Lemon or Lime Juice OR 2 TBLS Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops Lemon Essential Oil or Lime essential Oil or 1 of each
-3 TBLS minced Red, White or Yellow Onion
-3-4 Cloves Crushed Garlic (we love a lot of garlic so you can back this off to 1 or 2)
-4 TBLS of minced fresh herbs-I usually use cilantro and chives or basil but you can use any combo Chives, Flat-Leaf Parsley, Basil, Cilantro or Dill
-2/3 tsp Pink Salt or Sea Salt
-Ground Pepper to taste
-Pinch of sugar (I forget this step once in a while and the dressing is still amazing)
Optional ingredients you can throw in and play around with:
-Pinch of Cayenne
-Tapatio Hot Sauce (or your favorite)
-Paprika
-1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
-Minced Jalapeño
Directions:
1. Crush garlic, mince onion and mince the herb or herbs you are using. Set these aside for a few minutes.
2. Measure out the mayo, buttermilk and sour cream in a bowl. Whisk until smooth.
3. Add your lemon juice or vinegar and essential oil and combine.
4. Add your garlic, onion and herbs now along with salt pepper and your pinch of sugar. Stir well.
5. Taste and decide if you need more salt or pepper. If it is a bit acidic, add a touch more mayo. If it is not bright or acidic enough add a little more lemon juice or vinegar.
Note: If you were going to add any of the optional ingredients, I would do that before you add the salt, pepper and sugar as it may change the amount you need.
6. To make this thick so it is more of a dip, lower the buttermilk to 1/3 cup and increase the sour cream by 2 TBLS.
7. To turn this into Blue Cheese Dressing, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup (or more if you're super into it) of blue cheese or gorgonzola cheese! Split dressing in 1/2 and have some Ranch and some Blue Cheese!
-This dressing will stay good for 7-10 days but it likely won't last that long!
Let’s talk about all the dishes you can pour this Ranch Dressing over! What can you dip into it?
We put Ranch Dressing on Cobb Salad and Twice Baked Potatoes the most. But oh the possibilities!
Other things to do with this Ranch Dressing:
-Cut up veggies
-Salad
-Top any kind of burger! I love it on a veggie burger.
-Dip fries in it!
-Chicken Nuggets and Chicken Strips or any type of fried chicken!
-Mozzarella Sticks, Stuffed Mushrooms, fried zucchini (all the appetizers)
-Make wedge cut fries and top with cheese like nachos and sprinkle bacon and Ranch on top!
-Dip all the pizza in Ranch because duh!
-Have garlic bread, will dip!
-Use your Ranch Dressing as a spread on a sandwich in place of mayo, then make your favorite sandwich or you could make mine by placing some thinly sliced avocado on the bread, then sliced red onion, thin slices of cucumber, sliced tomato and a large piece of romaine lettuce. Meat optional.
-How about Ranch in place of mayo in a macaroni or potato salad? Maybe ½ mayo ½ Ranch?
-Last but not least, your finger as my friend Brenna reminded me!
-Last but not least, your finger as my friend Brenna reminded me!
Remember after you make this to snap a pic of the meal you served it with or of your family grinning from ear to ear in sheer delight because you just blew their minds! I would love for you to share the photos with me so come follow me on FB:
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