It’s an undeniable fact that homemade recipes usually don’t taste exactly the same as a store-bought version of the same food. This is most clearly the case with processed foods, which are especially hard to re-create exactly in a home kitchen. This is a good thing – do you really want your kitchen pantry stocked with ingredients like soybean oil, phosphoric acid, monosodium glutamate (MSG), disodium phosphate and the most mysterious ingredient of all, “artificial flavors”? These ingredients are only half of what you would need to make Ranch dressing that tastes exactly like it was poured from a shelf-stable bottle.
Ranch dressing is a much-loved condiment, one that many people remember fondly after they stop eating processed foods. But honestly, is the odd way that bottled Ranch dressing coats your tongue and the weird, metallic aftertaste something you really, truly miss?
If the answer is no, but you still find yourself wishing you had a creamy side to dip your chicken wings in or a rich dressing to pour on your salad, then you’re gonna love this homemade version of Ranch. Made from entirely recognizable and pronounceable ingredients, this dressing is creamy, tangy and loaded with fresh herbs and dried spices (plus a secret ingredient) that make it a dressing worthy of any chicken wing you throw at it.
There’s no way around the dairy in homemade Ranch dressing, so if you don’t tolerate milk then another type of dressing will be more your style. But if you do, then the full-fat Greek-style yogurt and cultured buttermilk in this version of Ranch will give you a healthy dose of protein and probiotic cultures every time you spoon it over a bowl of greens. Adding mayonnaise is optional – if you have some on hand and want to add a tablespoon or two you can – but this recipe doesn’t necessarily need it and homemade mayo will change the flavor a bit.
The first time you make the recipe, follow the measurements precisely before altering it. Adding more onion powder or garlic or less dried dill will tip the balance of flavors in a way that strays further from traditional Ranch dressing than you might like. And that secret ingredient? It’s tamari (or soy sauce), which heightens the savory flavor of the dressing much like the questionable MSG does.
Drizzle it over salads, use it as a dip for veggies or meat…go ahead, welcome Ranch dressing back into you life. After trying this all-natural version, you’ll never miss bottled Ranch dressing again.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Simply whisk together all ingredients. The flavors tend to get bolder after a few hours or overnight, so make the dressing ahead of time if possible and refrigerate.
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