I had no idea how easy ranch dressing was to make. Here’s how it went down in my kitchen.
I looked at the Buttermilk Ranch recipe. I shrugged one shoulder. I mashed garlic, chopped herbs, and dolloped various white and creamy ingredients into a bowl. I again shrugged a shoulder. I threw in some salt. I threw in some crushed peppercorns. I threw in a dash of Tabasco. I… yes, shrugged my shoulders. I stirred the bowl of herbs and creamy things together. I shrugged. I threw in some buttermilk. Stirred again.
Then I did this thing…. I took a leaf of butter lettuce and dipped it into the bowl. Holy Hell! Gracious heavens!! It tasted… get this… JUST LIKE RANCH DRESSING! Geeeeez! That was cool. Sometimes goodness sneaks up on you. Dang.
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is among the things that I wish grew on trees. Hot dang it’s good. I bring you this recipe just in time for every upcoming summer event that you’ve got planned. You’ll want this dressing on salads, on carrot sticks, in pasta salad, and maybe poured over your favorite breakfast cereal. It’s that good.
You might also try making the low fat version of this recipe. Low fat mayo and low fat sour cream? It could work. I believe in you.
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
from The Pioneer Woman (I figure she knows a thing or two about ranching and dressing)
1 cup of real mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
buttermilk (to desired consistency)
1 clove of garlic
1/4 cup Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
salt to taste
healthy pinch of freshly ground black pepper
dash of Tabasco
Mince the garlic with a knife and then sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of salt onto the garlic. With a fork, mash the garlic and salt into a thick paste.
In a bowl combine all of the ingredients except for the buttermilk. Stir. Add buttermilk until you’ve reach the desired consistency. Taste and season as necessary. Chill for a couple hours before serving. Thin with milk when it comes out of the fridge if you wish.
Amelia
Joy you are such an inspiration. Since discovering your website I swing between wanting to become a photographer and a baker. And I’ve started practising both!
You asked for inspiration yourself in your last post. Here it is….
It’s my Mum’s 60th Birthday on Sunday. I live in Dubai and I’m going back to the UK especially for it. Her favourite cake is coffee cake (with/without walnuts), but I’m struggling to find an exciting recipe! I’d really like to take her a cake home, to show her my baking progress!
Any ideas?
LoveFeast Table
Looks like a delish little salad! But, I also must say I love your pretty little dishes!! -CA
Renee
Have you tried sweet potatoes chips dipped in blue cheese dressing. I am going to try to make that. You inspired me to make ranch and I’m not even that crazy about ranch. :)
dana aka gluten free in cleveland
Holy moly. I haven’t have decent ranch dressing since going gluten-free 3 years ago (sorry Annie’s Organic, you just don’t cut it) and somehow I never thought about making it myself. You wish it grew on trees, I apparently think it spontenously forms in gluten-y bottles.
Thank you Joy, for reconnecting me ranch dressing goodness. Can’t wait to make my own.
Whitney
I totally just discovered homemade ranch too (and just posted about it). I got my recipe from The Homesick Texan. Man its good.
Cheri
Yay! I am excited to try this recipe! I have a hard time finding Ranch Dressing in Norway. It sounds delightful!
Mama JJ
Foodess and Joy, My ranch dressing has been in the fridge for weeks and weeks (not because it’s not good, but because we’re done with lettuce season—it is my third batch of dressing, I think), maybe a full month and then some, and it’s still perfectly fine.
Frieda
Be still my beating heart!!! I love PW’s recipes, but have only tried a couple of them. It’s great when someone else tries it and shares how great it is! Thanks!
Joanna
I keep intending to make this, especially now that my herb garden is just exploding. I must try it this week!
jill
ha! The same thing happened to me, I was all ‘meh’ when making it and then tasted it and was like ‘WHAT!’. It must be one of those things.
Foodess
Whoa, I could eat that with a spoon! Hey, how long do you think it will last in the fridge?
joythebaker
Foodess- I’ve had mine in the fridge for a few days. I’m guessing it’ll last a week or more. If you have carrot sticks around, it should last just a few hours.
Mama JJ
Yep, it’s a good recipe. I, too, learned it from PW and then promptly posted about it. Happy salad eating!
Phoo-D
I don’t know why I haven’t made this recipe yet. First over at PW and then here it looks and sounds so wonderful! Time to get on with it! Thanks Joy.
emily
I used to like ranch… Then I didn’t. Now that I have a lot of those herbs on hand, I may have to pick up some buttermilk at the store simply to try the homemade version!
Elizabeth
I am so excited to try this. My boys will eat any veggie if it is smothered in buttermilk ranch. I can’t wait to make it with them! Thanks!