25 Calorie Homemade Ranch Dressing and Dip

Buttermilk based ranch dressing has been an American favorite since its inception in the 1950’s. This homemade ranch dressing and dip has about 60 percent less calories than commercially prepared full-fat ranch dressing without sacrificing flavor.

Like all processed foods sold today, what you get is not the same ranch dressing produced and sold 60 years ago. Preservatives extend shelf-life, additives like locust bean gum thicken the product allowing the use of more water.

Full-fat Ranch dressing has 130 to 140 calories per 2 tablespoon (30 ml) serving. Prepared dressing and dips are usually high in sodium. The example pictured below has 240 mg of sodium per 2 tablespoon serving. This recipe, without added salt has about 110 mg per 2 tbsp. serving.

25 Calorie Homemade Ranch Dressing and Dip is low in calories, saturated fat, and sodium providing about 50 calories per 2 tablespoon serving. How far does 2 tablespoons go? The dinner salad in the photo has 2 tablespoons of thinned dressing.

One advantage of homemade dressing and dips, is you can adjust all ingredients to your taste. There are hundreds of ranch dressing recipes. 25 Calorie Homemade Ranch Dressing and Dip makes a ranch dressing or dip similar to the best selling bottled dressing with with little or no additives. Using organic mayonnaise reduces chemical additives but may only be available in full-fat versions.

Cook’s Tip

The original Ranch salad dressing was made using buttermilk. You can substitute low-fat buttermilk for all or part of the mayonnaise and yogurt. Using only low-fat buttermilk reduces the number of calories to 12 per tablespoon with zero calories from fat.

Reducing Prep Time

It takes only minutes to make Ranch dressing or dip, but you can save even more time by making enough dry mix for 8 or more servings. Combine:

• 1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder
• 1 tsp (5 ml) onion powder
• 1 tsp (5 ml) dried parsley
• 1 tsp (5 ml) dried dill
• 2 1/2 tsp (12.5 ml) dried chives
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) black pepper or to taste
• 1/8 tsp (0.625) cayenne pepper or to taste

Store in an small glass jar or airtight container. Use about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) mix per serving or to taste. All ingredients can be adjusted to taste.

Spicy Sriracha Ranch Dip/Dressing

I experimented adding sriracha chili sauce to this Ranch Dressing recipe and it was an instant hit. Add about 1 tsp (5 ml) or to taste.

Related Recipe

Thousand Island Dip/Dressing

Sriracha Dip and Dressing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruIREzkrCnUsstart=62

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 g) reduced fat mayonnaise
• 5.5 oz. (150 g) non-fat (0%) Greek or natural yogurt
• 2 to 4 tablespoon (30 to 60 ml) 2% milk or water to thin
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) white wine or white vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 ml) garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 ml) onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 ml) dried parsley
• 1/3 teaspoon (0.625 ml) dried chives or 1 tsp. (5 ml) fresh
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.625 ml) dried dill
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste
• Cayenne pepper to taste
• Optional herbs to taste: dried oregano, thyme, marjoram, sage

Method of Preparation