Homemade Ranch Dressing (2024)

FAQs

How is ranch made from scratch? ›

Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

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.

Even when a restaurant does start with premade ranch, they will often fold in extra fresh herbs, and maybe even more buttermilk, to lighten and bring in some brighter flavors that can be lost in shelf-stable bottling.

The list of Hidden Valley seasoning mix packets is plentiful, so be sure to look for the one proclaiming to be the buttermilk receipt. From there, get creative. Add some heat with cayenne, throw in some fresh herbs, or take your homemade ranch dressing up a notch by adding lavender.

Ranch dressing is a savory, creamy American salad dressing usually made from buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, mustard, herbs (commonly chives, parsley and dill), and spices (commonly pepper, paprika and ground mustard seed) mixed into a sauce based on mayonnaise or another oil emulsion.

Who Invented Ranch? Around 1950, Steve Henson unknowingly made history when he whipped up a unique mixture of dry herbs and buttermilk. Originally a plumber, Steve came up with the concoction while working briefly in Anchorage as a construction worker and part-time cook for his crew.

Because while some restaurants do use a bottled shelf stable dressing, what you are referring to is a powdered ranch mix (typically the Hidden Valley brand) that the restaurant cooks add milk/ buttermilk and sour cream to make their dressing.

The ranch packet has a fresher taste, because you add your own mayo and milk. Even though all the herbs and spices in the mix are dried, they rehydrate quickly and leave you with a product that feels homemade. This version of Hidden Valley Ranch is more flavorful than the bottled version and much, much thicker.

What Makes Wingstop Ranch Stand Out? Wingstop's Ranch is distinguished by its harmonious blend of buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, and a medley of spices. The resultant concoction is a velvety, flavorful sauce that pairs exquisitely with a variety of dishes, transcending beyond just wings.

If you want to thicken up your homemade ranch dressing, add more mayo, yogurt, or sour cream, and use less milk. For a more drizzle-able dressing, add more milk (or water) to thin it out. Chill in the Fridge. Transfer your creamy ranch dressing into a sealed jar or bottle for storage.

What gives ranch its signature flavor? ›

According to the New York Times, ranch dressing gets its signature taste from three distinct, yet equally important elements: Creaminess, herbs, and allium (that is, onions and garlic). The cream base can be various things, from sour cream to buttermilk and mayo.

But if you know what's good (and I do) your next bite starts with a hit of ranch. It's a bright herbal flavor and a slight tang to wake your palate up for the next round of glorious cheese. Essentially, the acid from the dressing cuts the grease from all that cheese and pepperoni and gets you ready for the next bite.

Ranch dressing is essentially a buttermilk mayonnaise dressing spiffed up with herbs. It was popularized by Clorox, when they figured out a way to make their Hidden Valley brand shelf stable. (According to Slate, bottled ranch dressing is shelf stable to 150 days or about 5 months.

Ranch dressing, along with most other salad dressings, is delicious. Ranch goes with everything and is a staple in the American diet. Some are afraid the dressing contains raw or undercooked eggs and stay away from it (2). However, if you check the label for egg content, you'll find that it does not contain eggs.

Original Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing.

One serving packs 140 calories and 14 grams of fat. Most of the fat in this dressing comes from soybean or canola oil and egg yolks.

A ranch refers to a specific type of farm that focuses on raising and herding hoven animals, typically cattle or sheep. Ranchers spend most of their time riding around (by horse or ATV) tending to their livestock. There might be a small farm or garden on the property, but it is not the primary focus.