As we continue work on eating whole foods and eating healthy, there are a few things that are hard to give up because it is hard to find an adequate replacement. Ranch dressing is one of those things. The stuff Hidden in the Valley should probably stay hidden due to it crazy list of yucky ingredients. The problem is that it tastes so good, and I had a hard time finding another organic brand that even came close to the taste of our favorite dressing. Actually, the several organic Ranch dressings I tried were downright nasty tasting. I had attempted to make my own dressing but didn’t really like those either. So, I went into research and development mode and finally came up with a pretty good substitute. It is not Hidden Valley but is is the closest thing I have come up with and my hubby and I are both big fans of the flavor. Making a ranch substitute that the hubby likes is a really saying something. His response when I told him I wasn’t buying anymore Ranch was, “No, you’ve taken everything else away from me. Please don’t take away my ranch!” This may have been an overly dramatic response but you get the idea. Ranch is a big deal around here.
Ingredients:
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. homemade mayo (I believe that much of the success of this recipe is because of the homemade mayo so make sure to make this ahead of time.)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
A few grinds of black pepper
1/2 tsp fresh, finely chopped dill leaves
1/2 tsp fresh, finely chopped chives
Pinch of fresh parsley
6 fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
Pinch of fresh thyme, finely chopped
Step One:
Mix together all ingredients in a pint jar, put the lid on, and shake well until incorporated.
Step Two:
Refrigerate for a couple hours and then taste. Adjust seasonings to taste. Need more dill punch? Add more dill. Not quite salty enough? Add in a pinch more salt.
This recipe make about 1 cup of dressing and is great on a fresh garden salad or freshly picked cucumbers. It keeps about a weeks in the fridge. Simple and delicious; my favorite combination. Yum!
This post is linked to Homestead Barn Hop, The Morris Tribe, Like a Mustard Seed, Whole Foods Wednesday, Frugally Sustainable,Healthy 2day Wednesday, Beyond the Peel, Your Green Resource.
5:23 pm on July 25th, 2012
Looks delicious! I actually went to the store the other day to buy ranch dressing… and immediately left when I started to read the ingredients. With the “regular” ranch having fake food, and the organic version being three times as much, I let the store empty-handed and went home to make my own. It’s so nice to read the different ranch variations so I can come up with the one that my family likes most. Thanks!
10:25 am on July 26th, 2012
This looks delicious! I love all the fresh herbs in it. How long does it keep for?
8:59 pm on July 26th, 2012
Looking good. Found you via Beyond the Peel’s Keep it Real Thursday. I linked in Coronation Chicken – a dish with a dash of history! Cheers
7:35 am on July 27th, 2012
Krissa, it keeps for about a week, although if you use homemade mayo that has been lacto-fermented with whey it will keep slightly longer. Thanks for stopping by!
7:37 am on July 27th, 2012
Tiffany, thanks for stopping by. I know, isn’t reading ingredient labels depressing sometimes? I hope you find a combination that your family loves!
7:40 am on August 2nd, 2012
[...] Homemade Ranch Dressing by Green Bean Gardens [...]
7:40 am on August 2nd, 2012
Sounds so yummy! I featured it on Your Green Resource this week.