Recipe: Quick and Easy Homemade Low Fat Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and Dip (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between ranch dressing and buttermilk ranch dressing? ›

Traditional ranch is made from sour cream, mayonnaise, dried herbs (usually dill, parsley, and chives), garlic powder, and onion powder. Buttermilk versions have, as you guessed, the addition of buttermilk and tend to be a bit thinner.

Going with a light version can cut calories by as much as half, but they tend to have more sodium and sugar. We recommend skipping the "fat-free" kind since a little fat helps your body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in your vegetables.

Ranch dressing is usually based with mayonnaise, with sufficient water added that it will pour to cover the salad. Ranch dip is usually based with sour cream, or sometimes yogurt, and is not thinned so that it will stick to chips or vegetable slices.

Stored in a well-sealed container in the fridge (assuming you began with fresh sour cream and buttermilk) your buttermilk ranch dressing should keep for up to two weeks. Help it stay fresh by not dipping anything directly into the container that you're storing it in—for example, a half-bitten carrot.

It's no secret that Hidden Valley Ranch is a staple ingredient in many homemade ranch dressings, but did you know that restaurants also rely on this classic brand? According to several chefs I spoke with, Hidden Valley Ranch provides the perfect balance of tanginess and creaminess that customers love.

As mentioned, if you don't have buttermilk, you can use kefir instead. Or, in a pinch, you can make your own homemade buttermilk substitute with regular milk and white vinegar. This is very easy to do: Combine 1 tablespoon of white vinegar (or lemon juice) with enough milk to make 1 cup.

The biggest thing to look for in healthy salad dressings is the oil it's made with. For the healthiest salad dressings, you want one made with a good, natural oil like extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. You want to look for bottles that say expeller-pressed, cold-pressed, or first-pressed on the label.

Certainly. It's all about what texture you're going for. Use the dip mix if you prefer a thicker dressing, or the pourable dressing as dip if you prefer a smoother, creamier texture.

What is ranch dip made of? ›

Sour cream and mayonnaise: The base for this creamy ranch recipe is a mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise. Seasonings: This flavorful ranch dressing is seasoned with dried chives, dried parsley, dried dill weed, dried garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper.

The Classic and Southern are the same, but the creamy ranch has buttermilk powder and some other ingredients like lactose, malic acid, and carrageenan (the latter to hold it together since buttermilk powder thins out in a weird way)... the flavor is much milder than the classic/southern because of the buttermilk powder ...

If the texture changes and the ranch starts to separate, that's a sure sign it's too old. Additionally, your nose is a helpful tool here. Ranch normally has a pleasant smell, so if it develops any kind of foul odor, it's likely past its prime.

For using in drinks and uncooked dishes (like buttermilk ranch dressing), buttermilk is best while it is freshest. As buttermilk ages, it thickens and begins to lose its buttery flavor qualities. It can still be used for baking and meat tenderizing, which depend on its acid qualities.

Ranch dressing typically has a creamy and tangy flavor with hints of herbs like dill, parsley, and garlic. It's not particularly sweet, but it's also not overly salty. It's more savory and herby, with a slight tanginess from ingredients like buttermilk or sour cream. Tastes like Mayonnaise on French Fries.

The regular seems to have more of a note of acidity, while the buttermilk is obviously meant to be more creamy. I find that the more acidic original pairs much better with most foods than the creaminess of the buttermilk, even though the buttermilk is still tangy.

A creamy buttermilk ranch sauce with savory garlic, onion and herb flavors.

Buttermilk (MILK) (35%), Rapeseed Oil, Water, Spirit Vinegar, EGG Yolk, Sugar, Modified Starch, Salt, Spices, Herbs, Spice Extract, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Thickener (Xanthan Gum), Acid (Lactic Acid).