This is an ode, a tribute, a declaration to my first love: ranch dressing.
The versatile sauce can be used for an endless amount of things—from pizza, to chicken wings, to vegetables, to hashbrowns, and everything in between. It has earned its fame in the form of tattoos, chip flavours, viral videos of people drinking it, and even a mini keg filled with it. And why not? Ranch is the best condiment known to man.
Ranch has always been my sauce of choice—at parties (veggie sticks!), after a night out (pizza!), or during a night in (veggies sticks and pizza!). The zing, the creaminess, the herbs—the joy it brings me is almost incomparable to anything. It’s the longest I’ve ever been committed to something, and it has never let me down.
I will go to great lengths to have ranch on my plate; I’ve been called out many times by friends as loving ranch more than, say, the pizza I’ve drowned in it. I once carried a full bottle of ranch in my purse duringa date, just in case I needed it—he didn’t quite understand, and needless to say we’re no longer together. It’s known to everyone in my life that it’s me and ranch until the very end.
And it turns out I have a worldly thinker named Steve Henson to thank for this love affair of mine. A plumber by trade, he first created a version of the dressing while working construction in Alaska around the early 1950s; he was sometimes in charge of cooking for his coworkers as well (incredibly generous, right? Of course this magical sauce was made out of love and selflessness), and came up with the recipe on one of those days.
Now, since a lot of people aren’t exactly sure what ingredients make up my beloved ranch, I’ve decided to lay out the basics (though recipes do vary). Just call me Steve Henson.
- ¾ cups buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Some dill, parsley, black pepper, and garlic
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Interestingly, most of the original ingredients were used in dried form, which is part of what gives ranch its distinct tang. “Any home cook can make a lovely, full-flavored ranch dressing using real garlic, freshly ground black pepper and bright green herbs,” Julia MoskinwritesinThe New York Times. “But the particular flavor of traditional ranch can only be achieved with the dry versions of all those aromatics: garlic and onion powder, dried herbs, powdered pepper and buttermilk.” That’s because fresh ingredients were rare in Alaska at the time. So Henson had to make due with what was available—and he sure did.
After his stint in Alaska, Henson and his wife moved to a California ranch and named it Hidden Valley. Yes, the very same Hidden Valley Ranch you’re thinking of—it’s a real place. It became a guesthouse with a restaurant that served, among other things, Henson’s dressing creation; eventually, it became so popular that the Hensons sold it to Clorox, which now owns and produces all the Hidden Valley products on the market. Today, true ranch fans can try the original recipe in the cutest old-school restaurant (the first place outside the ranch to ever sell it) calledCold Spring Tavernin Santa Barbara. New bucket-list item for sure.
Ranch has reportedly been America’s top-selling salad dressing since 1992, with Hidden Valley alone pulling in hundreds of millions in revenue per year. So to say it’s beloved is an understatement; it’s basically part of the foundation on which our happiness is built.
That mix of buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, and herbs—there’s truly nothing else like it. And although it may be best if you don’t think about what ingredients are actually in ranch dressing while eating it, you can definitely think of the sweet, sweet joy it brings your tastebuds. And you can think of Steve Henson. Always Steve Henson.
FAQs
Ranch was not invented in the Midwest, but thanks to our parents blanketing any food most of us breadbasket kids used to eat, it was deeply ingrained in our psyche as an all-purpose utility sauce.
What year did ranch dressing become popular? ›
It wasn't until 1983 that people could buy a premixed bottle of ranch at the grocery store. In 1992, it became the most popular dressing in America.
What is the most popular salad dressing in 1992? ›
Ranch has been the best-selling salad dressing in the United States since 1992, when it overtook Italian dressing. It is also popular in the United States and Canada as a dip, and as a flavoring for potato chips and other foods.
Why do people love ranch so much? ›
1. It makes more than just salads taste better. Yes, leafy greens are yummier when they're covered in creamy goodness, but ranch's power doesn't stop there. The unique flavor goes with just about anything, including chips, mozzarella sticks, fried chicken, pork chops, arancini, crispy potatoes, sausages, and more.
Which state likes ranch the most? ›
Ranch dressing is ubiquitous in Iowa. You'll find it on salads, veggies and alongside French fries and cheese curds — and sometimes even on pizza and tacos.
Is ranch midwestern or southern? ›
Ranch was invented by a Nebraskan who began serving it in at a dude ranch in California, but its spiritual home has always been the Midwest.
What was the dressing for 1970? ›
Early 1970s fashion
Popular styles included bell bottom pants, frayed jeans, midi skirts, maxi dresses, tie-dye, peasant blouses, and ponchos. Some accessories that will help pull together your early '70s Hippie outfits are chokers, headbands, scarves, and jewelry made of wood, stones, feathers, and beads.
What was the dressing for the 1950s? ›
It wasn't until this decade that the age between child and adult was acknowledged and a fashion more suited to this age developed. Full skirts, tight tops, capris and flat shoes – well suited to jive dancing become iconic for this age. This influenced casual fashions across the age range in both men and women.
What is the number one salad dressing in the world? ›
Ranch Dressing
The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings.
What sells more ketchup or ranch? ›
But is ranch actually the most popular condiment in all the land? Earlier this year, Influenster shared an unofficial survey of the most popular condiments in all 50 states. They found that ranch reigned supreme in six of them. Ketchup outranked all other condiments in just one state, Pennsylvania.
The Midwest knows ranch best
According to the Association of Dressings and Sauces (yes, that's a real thing), ranch dressing is more popular in the Midwest than any other region in the country (via The New York Times).
How do restaurants make their ranch taste so good? ›
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.
Why are people addicted to ranch? ›
natural and artificial flavors. this is part of the reason why ranch is so addicting. and you can't stop eating it, because it has all these ingredients in here, like MSG, that excite neurons in your brain, and they're quite literally addictive.
Are there ranches in the Midwest? ›
Some of the larger ranches can be to around 50,000 to even 100,000 acres of land. The largest cattle ranch is currently is located in Plains, Kansas. Named the XIT Ranch, it occupies more than 100,000 acres of land.
What are Midwesterners known for? ›
Known for its friendly vibe, salt-of-the-earth, no-nonsense folk and affordable cost of living, the Midwestern U.S. has much to offer.
Why did farmers come to the Midwest? ›
At first, farmers avoided the grassy plains of the Midwest. But they soon learned that the prairie soil was deep and rich and good for farming. In 1800, almost all Americans lived on farms. In fact, about 90 out of every 100 people in America lived on a farm.
