Homemade Ranch Dressing - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

How was the original ranch dressing made? ›

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.

Mix 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup mayo, and 1 Hidden Valley Ranch Packet in a mixing bowl. Serve with anything! Or: Mix 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup mayo, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp of pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, dried parsley and dried dill in a mixing bowl. Serve with anything!

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 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.

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.

The original ranch dressing that was served at the Hidden Valley Ranch in Santa Barbara throughout the 1950's and the 1960's was mostly made from dry herbs and aromatics. To recreate the traditional recipe you can use garlic powder and dried herbs. You make and store the seasoning as needed and then add dairy.

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.

While many restaurants use mass produced ranch mix, they often add it to a higher-quality base. This might include milk, buttermilk, sour cream, or mayonnaise. So when you notice that the ranch in a restaurant tastes better than the bottled dressing from the store, what you're really tasting is delicious, creamy fat.

There is no right or wrong combination; you just have to play and figure out what makes your skirt fly up. But here's how I approach it: the mayonnaise gives the dressing the solid, creamy, tangy base. I use more of it. The sour cream brings a thickness and a body to the dressing…but it's light and mild in flavor.

What to add to ranch to make it better? ›

Speaking of condiments, stir in some barbecue sauce or pesto. Basil pesto is great, but I actually prefer dill pesto here. Since ranch seasoning already has a good amount of dill, it simply amplifies it. (If you're wondering if dill pesto is simply basil pesto with dill instead of basil, you are correct.)

To Freeze: Freezing homemade ranch isn't recommended since the taste and texture tends to change once it's thawed. I always prefer to whip up a fresh batch.

Homemade ranch is free of any super-effective preservatives, hence it will stay for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Use an airtight container or tightly sealed plastic bag. Why does my homemade ranch contain water after refrigeration? The excess water in the ranch may be because of spoilage.

8oz Garden Herb Ranch Sauce.

They use packets of dry Hidden Valley Ranch to flavor their dressing. It is the leading brand of ranch seasoning around, offering a rich, zesty flavor. Our easy-to-make Wingstop ranch dressing recipe uses this dry seasoning mix. However, you can make homemade ranch seasoning mix if you prefer.

Naturally Fresh, Inc. is a producer of dressings, sauces, marinades, dips, oils, and vinegar. The company also manufactures dressings, sauces and dips for a number of different restaurants and institutions, including Hooters.

A: I found flavor is pretty much the same but the new original container I just got has more salt: homestyle 45 mg vs original 60 mg. I can taste the difference. Great product for either version.