HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING

This creamy Homemade Ranch Dressing is great on all sorts of salads,from spinach salad to grill chicken and seafood salads. It is not just for salads; you can use it as a dip, marinade or flavouring your favorite snack. Believe me it is a beautiful dressing and you can make in minutes. It will transform your salad into a delicious meal!

With springtime about here, it’s the perfect time to start planning for some wonderful fresh foods that are so appealing on a warm day. For me, some of the best light snacks and meals include a wonderful salad or a crudité platter.

RANCH DRESSING

It just wouldn’t be complete without a delicious dressing. Sure, you could pick up a bottle of store-bought dressing or whip up a powdered mix, but if you put the effort into a complex salad or veggie plate, you probably want something more than dried milk and a few bits of dehydrated spices. For the best meal, you just can’t be a good creamy homemade ranch dressing. The great thing about a good homemade ranch dressing is that it pairs well with so many Spring and Summer dishes.

Having friends over for chips and dip before an evening cookout? This dressing can be thickened up a bit with a little extra sour cream and a bit less buttermilk to work well with any kind of chips. Need a topping for a dull baked potato? This recipe is perfect to give your potato some zip! A good-sized vegetable plate with some carrots, celery, bell pepper and cucumber slices just begs for this homemade ranch dressing. Of course, it is pure perfection with anything from a basic lettuce and tomato salad to a hefty meal-sized salad packed with greens, crispy vegetables and croutons.

What makes this particular recipe different from others is its complexity. The use of fresh herbs like parsley and chives gives it a little spice and that “out of the garden” flavor. For the creamy texture, this dressing doesn’t just rely on one or even two ingredients, but it combines sour cream, mayonnaise, and buttermilk for a heavenly consistency. You’ll get a touch of heat from the Dijon mustard, garlic, and fresh ground pepper. A little lemon juice and red wine vinegar add some tang. Altogether this blend may the best homemade ranch dressing I’ve ever tried.

HOW TO STORE DRESSING

Refrigerate it soon after you make it so you’ll get that cool savory bite, plus you won’t want to waste a bit of this stuff. Since this homemade ranch dressing has mayo, you’ll want to keep it refrigerated and then it will last for several meals. If you don’t want to top it with ordinary croutons, try it with some sunflower seeds, walnuts or chopped almonds for a great crunch.