Homemade Ranch Dressing

Intro: Homemade Ranch Dressing

For a long time I've been under the impression that ranch dressing was a magical concoction that I'd never be able to make myself. Oh, how I was wrong! Not only is it possible, but it's easy to make your own delicious, healthy ranch dressing.

STEP 1: Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients:
.5 cup mayonnaise
.5 cup whole yogurt
.25 cup 2% milk
2 tbsp. chopped celery leaves
1.5 tbsp. chopped fresh dill
1.5 tbsp. diced onion (sweet or red)
1 clove garlic, diced
1 tsp. dijon mustard
2 tsp. lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Tools:
medium mixing bowl
whisk
measuring cups
knife
cutting board
food processor (optional but nice)

STEP 2: Dice Up the Solids

Using your food processor if you have one or a knife if you don't, dice the onion and garlic (I used a shallot since I *gasp* ran out of garlic). Also dice (don't food-process) the dill and celery.

STEP 3: Combine and Whisk

Combine all ingredients in your bowl and whisk up the concoction. Don't forget to taste it, and adjust your seasonings accordingly.

STEP 4: Chill and Enjoy

For full effect, let your dressing sit in the fridge for an hour before serving. This lets the flavors combine. It's great on salads and as a dip for veggies and chicken wings. I've been experimenting with adding less and less mayo, which yields a lighter flavor.

Comments

[julibelle]

did you know that there really is a 'Hidden Valley Ranch'? The actual home of the original Ranch dressing. It was a working/guest ranch in foothills of Santa Barbara. The dressing was so poular, the Rancher and his wife used to make their own packets of (gasp!) dry ingredients and sold them at our local Jordano's markets. A 'food scout' discovered them and the rights were sold to the Kraft Co in the late 60's.... "Making' Ranch dressing by mixing the buttermilk + mayo + packet was probably my first solo cooking experience. Yours sounds delicious too!

[LADY DIXIE T]

There is. However it looks NOTHING like the label. It is a small community outside of Sparks, Nevada which is a small town, attached to Reno, Nevada. "The Biggest Little City In The World".

[I MP]

I use a 2 to 1 ratio between the mayo and yogurt. I use plain Greek yogurt and buttermilk for tartness and omit the lemon juice. Dried versions of the onions, celery, garlic and dill weed can be used at half of the quantity of the fresh ones. Allow a longer time for the ingredients to marry if you use the dried.

[rcoleman4]

I am allergic to mustard what can i substitute that with?

[ehudwill]

Thanks for sharing. This sounds good. Things are better when made from scratch.

[Spookeriffic]

Love this recipe, but I think I'm going to give it a try with Greek Yogurt. It's been an experiment I've been wanting to try...

[fritsie123]

The dressing is nice enough, but please also tell about the homemade beer! :-) Also, what are the vegetables on the picture? I can see sugar snaps and celery, but what are those white carrotty things? Really hope you will make an 'ible about the beer!

[bekathwia]

There's a rollover note on that picture showing which veggies are which. The snow peas are from our garden, and we got the yellow carrots from our local Community Supported Agriculture pickup.

[mdeblasi1]

With regard to white carroty things, I never pass up a chance to lobby for parsnips, the most wonderful vegetable that no one knows about. They taste like parsley, very herbaceous. yet crunchy. Sometimes the cores get tough, you can use those in soup and stew. Give them a try with some of this delicious ranch dressing.

[DeliciousMystic]

I also would like to give a nod to parsnips.. cut into sticks toss with olive oil or butter and garlic.. sprinkle with parmesan.. bake at 350.. you will love me for this.. :)

[Nesagwa]

Throw a few in with your potatoes for mashing.

[FaithHopeLove]

I think they are parsnips .... looks very much like them

[bekathwia]

I can assure you they are carrots, just yellow ones is all. They're very flavorful!

[kules1]

awesome! exactly what I needed--so tired of wanting my late night grub and being told that restaurants don't serve ranch with my fries or pizza. tonight i made my ranch following your recipe. so yum and so easy! thanks

[smccomb lallithan]

My 8 year old daughter loves ranch dressing, does anyone know if ranch can be canned. wasn't sure if the heat would spoil the mayo.

[Nabil]

Totally recomended!! I served it with buffalo wings and celery sticks and it was a blast! (still full)

[blauschmetterling]

How long does this last in the fridge? I'd love to try, but I don't have a lot of free time so I would probably make a big batch at once. If it doesn't last to long do you think I could freeze some?

[bekathwia]

About a week. Not sure about freezing, give it a try!

[ANTQNUT]

Can this stuff be made vegan?

[bekathwia]

I wad vegan for 6 years, and I never found a ranch dressing I liked. You should be able to try it with the Silk plain yogurt and vegannaisse, though, so let me know if it works out for you!