Buttermilk Dill aka 'Ranch' Salad Dressing

By
Molly Watson
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
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Updated on 05/26/22
Bunch of dill

Westend61 / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Chill Time: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 servings

This light yet creamy, ranch-style dressing is perfect for the tender, young lettuces of spring and early summer. Using buttermilk, mayonnaise, some herbs, and seasonings, you can make your own homemade ranch dressing so easily and in just a few minutes. The longest time you will have to wait is the 30 minutes after making it to give it some "time out" in the fridge to chill. Then you can pour it, drizzle it, or dip it, whatever your heart desires. Once you taste it with all the fresh ingredients, you will make this over and over again. 

If you want to add some crunch, this dressing is tasty with trimmed radishes or slices of cucumber, too. Add them to a salad or serve the dressing as a dip. As long as you're using it as a dip, use this fresh, vibrant, homemade version wherever you might use a bottled ranch dressing.

This dressing mix is also great to use in chicken or pork recipes that call for ranch dressing. There are so many ways to use this versatile dressing, it will become a staple in your house.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup buttermilk

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup fresh dill

  • 1 small bunch fresh chives

  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, optional

  • Freshly ground black pepper, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Whisk together the buttermilk and mayonnaise to combine them thoroughly into a very smooth mixture. 

  3. Finely mince the dill (you should have about 2 tablespoons). Stir it into the buttermilk mixture.

  4. Finely mince the chives (again, you should have about 2 tablespoons). Stir them into the buttermilk mixture, too.

  5. Stir in the salt. Add the garlic powder to taste, if you like. Taste and add more salt, if you like. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste, if you like. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes and up to 1 week before using.

Tip

  • While making "fake buttermilk" by stirring a teaspoon of lemon juice into a cup of milk and letting it sit 10 to 15 minutes is a great option for many recipes, that's not so true of this recipe. Make sure to use real buttermilk.

How to Store

  • Store your homemade ranch dressing in a mason jar or airtight container. It should be kept in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to one week.
  • It is best not to freeze this dressing, as it will lose its consistency, and the texture will not be the same.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
91 Calories
9g Fat
1g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 91
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 6mg 2%
Sodium 468mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 1mg 6%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 39mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)