Homemade Herb Ranch Dressing
My homemade herb ranch dressing is so good and we not only use it for dressing, we also use it as a light dip for veggies or even chips.
One of the ingredients is buttermilk and that’s not something everyone always has on hand but I have a tip for that.
I have been making my own ranch dressing for decades. It’s lighter and more flavorful (at least to me) than anything you can buy in the store. Also knowing what’s in my dressings is important to me.
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I could eat a salad for lunch every day but in the spring and summer, I actually do. It’s the season when greens are fresh from my garden or the farmer’s market.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dill weed
- 1/2 tsp seasoning salt
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced I use 1 tsp. minced jar garlic
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and refrigerator for at least an hour before serving
Notes
Nutrition
“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients”
– Julia Childs
Lettuce
Salad can be but it doesn’t have to be just head lettuce (iceberg)
- Spring Mix Greens
- Arugula
- Romaine
- Bib Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Endive
- Radicchio
Salad Fixings
In addition to a bowl full of fresh greens, you can add any of your favorite fixings. A protein is also a great addition.
- Hard-boiled egg
- Carrots
- Celery
- Hearts of Palm
- Tomatoes
- Olives
- Green Beans
- Avocado
- Green Onions
- Red Onions
- Feta Cheese
- Shredded Cheddar
- Peas
- Broccoli
- Asparagus Tips
- Bell Peppers
You can also add protein for a very balanced meal
- Chicken/Turkey
- Shrimp
- Steak
- Salmon/Tuna
- Tofu
- Chick Peas
- Edamame
- Black Bean
Toppings for a little crunch
- Croutons
- Chopped Nuts
- Chopped Scallions
- Tortilla Strips
- Bacon Bits
- Chow Mein Noodles
This is also the time when our chickens are starting to lay eggs at a steady pace so I hard-boil eggs every week. We love them chopped up on a fresh green salad.
Fresh Herbs
You can add your own touch to this by flavoring it with more or different herbs. You can add chopped basil, oregano, fresh parsley, or thyme. Oregano has a strong taste so I would use 1/2 of what you might think to add.
My rule of thumb for herbs is 1 tablespoon fresh = 1 teaspoon dried
Salad Dressing Tricks
When I buy buttermilk it is only to use it for my dressing. I used to throw away the leftovers until I got smart and started freezing the buttermilk in my ice trays. Using a silicone ice tray with large squares, I put 2 tablespoons of buttermilk in each square.
8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup of buttermilk – 4 cubes are exactly what you need for this dressing recipe.
Once it’s frozen in the tray I take it and put it into a container to use later from the freezer. I take out my cubes, let them thaw, and then proceed with the rest of the dressing recipe.
Chives can also be frozen. In Illinois (hardiness zone 5b) chives are perennial and I get tons of them. When the growing season is slowing down, I cut a bunch of chives, finely slice them, and freeze them. In this dressing, you can just add them frozen and by the time you mix everything up they are perfect.
Other Salad Recipes
Enjoy,
Meet Me
Created by Lynn Vogeler, Small House Kitchen is a celebration of the joy found in mostly from-scratch cooking and the magic that happens when great ingredients meet limitless imagination. In our small house, we turn simple ingredients into extraordinary meals with big flavors.
You can find out about all of my other passions; decorating, entertaining, organizing, and gardening over at livinglargeinasmallhouse.com
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This looks great Lynn! I agree homemade dressing is always best.
It’s good, it’s easy! Nothing better –
Lynn I am excited to try this! We are trying to make more of our meals from scratch! pinned.
It’s very easy and very yummy. I typically just use vinegar, olive oil, and some herbs but this is a nice change of pace.
Thank you so much for sharing my recipe!
Good recipe, Lynn! I love buttermilk recipes and I use it (or rather, I sour my milk) in a cake recipe and the cake turns out fabulously!! Anyway, I am so happy to share your post at Share Your Style #341 this evening for you. 🙂 Hope you are having a wonderful week!!
Happy Easter,
Barb 🙂
Thank you for sharing my post!