By Tiffany Published • Last Updated March 21, 202419 Comments
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In last week’s budget accountability post (counting crumbs) there was a very short trip to Savemart consisting of only three items – black beans, half and half, and a red pepper. Little did you know that there was originally a fourth item…
But it never made it out the store.
In fact, it didn’t even make it off the shelf.
With one look at the list of ingredients, it was put swiftly back on the shelf.I simply could not bring myself to purchase ranch dressing.
You see, ever since I read what was in coffee creamer and started to read (and understand) labels beyond the calorie content, I can’t buy something that I know has hydrogenated oil.
And I’ve tried!I looked at every single brand of ranch dressing on the shelf that day.I WANTED to buy ranch dressing.Some bottles were even granted a second look!But alas, every single one had hydrogenated oils.My eyes browsed the twice as expensive and half the size bottles of organic… but the organic brand didn’t offer ranch.
Note: I love using mason jars for homemade dressing and these lids make it super easy to shake and pour!
I know that at some point in time a label will be missed and a box of “something” will end up in our pantry.But if I’m doing the shopping and see that the plastic stuff is there, it won’t be in my cart.
Even bottles at home are not immune to scrutiny. While cleaning out the fridge last weekend, ninebottles of something (dressing, sauces, etc.) had hydrogenated oil as an ingredient.The rule is simple:if it’s listed, the bottle gets tossed – no questions asked.Unopened boxes of food are being thrown away because we would rather lose $1-$2 than risk our health, or even our lives by eating it.
Our lives, and my children’s lives, do not have a price tag.
And now I’m more educated to know not to buy those things in the first place.
I could have sucked it up that day and bought the dressing – for ease, for convenience, for taste – but my conscience won.Instead I walked out the door with those three items and crossed my fingers that my fridge held what was needed to make a homemade version of ranch dressing (even though I truly had no clue what was needed).
As it turns out, the ingredients for homemade ranch dressing were already in my fridge and spice cabinet.A batch of dressing for dinner was easy to whip up and my husband loved it.As simple as it is to pick up a bottle at the store, it’s just as simple to make our own from here on out.
A simple recipe for ranch dressing and/or seasoning that tastes just as good as store-bought without the questionable ingredients!
Author:Tiffany
Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:0 minutes
Total Time:5 minutes
Yield:About 13 Tbsp1x
Category:Sauces & Condiments
Method:Bowl
Cuisine:American
Ingredients
Scale
5 Tbsp dried parsley
6 tsp dried dill
6 tsp garlic powder
6 tsp onion powder
3 tsp dried basil
3 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt, or to taste
Instructions
Ranch Seasoning
Combine all ingredients in a glass jar (or bowl) and mix well. Store in a sealed container. Use 1 tablespoon at a time when serving.
To turn ranch seasoning into dressing:
Combine 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning with any of the following variations: 1/3 cup yogurt (greek or regular) and 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream and 1-2 tablespoons of milk or buttermilk 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1-2 tablespoons buttermilk
Notes
You can use ranch seasoning in place of store-bought packets in any recipe as well.
Keywords: Ranch dressing
The Pioneer Woman has a recipe for homemade ranch as well that looks delicious.Hers involved many ingredients that are “optional to taste” so it’s up to you guys to visit and try if you’re feeling a little daring.The recipe above is tried and true and since everything was in my pantry, there’s a good chance they’re in yours too.Oh, and it’s really good!
What about you – do you make your own dressings?
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Ranch dressing contains 320 milligrams of sodium in a two-tablespoon serving. Eating this much sodium on a regular basis could lead to heart health issues like high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.
One serving of ranch dressing typically contains around 140 calories and 14 grams of fat, which can quickly turn a healthy salad into a high-calorie meal. Ranch dressing is not good for weight loss because it contains high saturated fat are sometimes not easily digested.
If you don't have time or inclination to make your dressing from scratch, but you want that elevated restaurant-style ranch, think about zhuzhing up the bottled version with things like finely chopped shallot or scallion, a clove of minced fresh garlic, a splash of buttermilk or dollop of sour cream if you have them ...
Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.
It might be delicious, but this condiment also contains fat and calories. One tablespoon of ranch dressing serves about eight grams of total fat. It's OK to eat these salad dressings in moderation, but remember that the high calorie and fat count makes it easy to go over your daily recommended intake.
Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest. The exception? We like products made with healthy swaps—think Greek yogurt in place of mayo or heavy cream.
Ranch dressing is popular in the US, where it is frequently served with fried foods and in creamy salads, so it may come as a surprise to hear that the mix of mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and a range of herbs and spices is lower in fat than mayonnaise, which makes ranch a lighter, creamy salad dressing option.
Dressings like ranch, blue cheese, and Thousand Island are often high in calories, unhealthy saturated fat, and sodium. A 2-tablespoon serving of a typical blue cheese dressing tacks on nearly 150 calories and more than 15 grams of fat.
Homemade wins here. The two dressings are roughly equivalent in terms of fat content, but store-bought ranch is the prototypical processed food, with an ingredients list that includes modified corn starch, monosodium glutamate, sodium lactate, polysorbate 60, et cetera.
Originally Answered: Why does ranch dressing taste so much better in a restaurant than at home? Freshness. They mix it up every day or two, from the seasoning mix, buttermilk, and mayonnaise, and go through it very fast.
Well having worked there for over 3 years, they use a gallon of Mayo, a half a gallon of 3% buttermilk and 3 packets (large 3.2 ounce packets) of hidden valley ranch mix. You mix the Mayo and a quart of buttermilk then the ranch packets then the last buttermilk. We would let it sit for a few hours to blend together.
Most bottled ranch dressings primarily consist of vegetable oil, with smaller quantities of egg and other dairy ingredients. On the other hand, restaurant ranch dressings often contain real dairy products like buttermilk, milk, or sour cream, which contribute to a creamier and more flavorful taste [2][3].
The American Heart Association recommends you limit your saturated fat intake to 6% of your daily calories, but ranch dressing contains about 20% of your recommended intake. Next time, swap the ranch for a healthier alternative. You can even try to make your own healthy ranch-inspired dressing using Greek yogurt.
Is it healthier to eat no salad or salad and dressing? It's definitely healthier to eat salad. Raw vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. A small amount of dressing is not a horrible thing.
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