Ranch Dressing – The American Salad Sauce

Ranch Dressing – The American Salad Sauce

• 250ml (1 cup) mayonnaise
• 125ml (1/2 cup) sour cream
• 125ml (1/2 cup) buttermilk
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 30ml (2 tbsp) dill, washed and finely chopped
• 30ml (2 tbsp) flat-leaf parsley, washed and finely chopped
• 1.25ml (1/4 tsp) salt

The ranch dressing is a popular cold sauce for salads, especially in the US. It’s creamy but light with lovely herbal flavours and just the right touch of garlic without being overpowering. Also, it’s one of those things that you can whip up yourself in a jiffy. The result you get will be way better than the store-bought dressings. I f you look at the nutritional values on the store-bought ranch dressing, you’d wish you made your own years ago! So, the next time you serve up a homemade burger with potato wedges, take the time to make your own ranch dressing. Sometimes the devil is in the detail, so put the finishing touch by making your own ranch dressing. You can season it to your own personal taste by adjusting the herbs you use.

SEASONING

The seasoning of ranch dressing is all about the herbs you use. Traditionally, it is a mix of parsley, dill and chives. These three herbs work complementing each other beautifully. Some people use dried herbs, but I strongly recommend you to use fresh herbs instead. Not only do you get a much fresher and more vibrant taste from it. You also get a much more pleasant texture in the dressing than with dried herbs.

The same goes for the garlic. Some recipes use garlic powder but you will get a much better flavour using freshly crushed garlic. You just have to be careful not to use too much as it could overpower the other flavours. It also depends on the size and strength of the cloves used. So, start with a little, then taste and add gradually add until you reach the flavour you like.

If you don’t have parsley, dill and chives in your garden, don’t worry. You can also use chervil or watercress if you can get hold of these. Of course, the outcome will be a bit different but still delicious! Finish off with a few drops of lemon juice to give it balance and sprinkle generously with chopped chives on top. Alternatively, you can use the tops of spring onions. These are a little stronger in taste but paired with the creamy dressing it balances out very nicely.

Ranch Dressing – The American Salad Sauce