Ranch dressing is a popular salad dressing and dip commonly served in the United States and parts of Canada. The creamy, tangy flavor of traditional ranch pairs well with a variety of foods like salad greens, chicken wings, pizza, and veggie sticks. But some people wonder if this favored condiment contains dairy ingredients or if there are dairy-free ranch options available. This article will dive into the typical ingredients found in traditional ranch dressing and discuss dairy-free ranch alternatives.
What are the Common Ingredients in Ranch Dressing?
Traditional ranch dressing usually contains the following core ingredients:
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise forms the base of most ranch dressing recipes. Mayonnaise contains eggs and oil and sometimes milk or cream. So traditional mayonnaise is not dairy-free.
Buttermilk
Cultured buttermilk is another key ranch ingredient. Buttermilk provides the tangy flavor associated with ranch dressing. Buttermilk is a dairy product, so it contains lactose.
Sour Cream
Many ranch recipes call for sour cream, which is a cultured dairy product. The sour cream contributes to the creamy texture and boosts the tang.
Milk
Some recipes use milk to thin out the ranch dressing and achieve the desired consistency. Milk is obviously a dairy ingredient.
Garlic and Onion
Dried or fresh garlic and onion are commonly used to add flavor to ranch dressing. On their own, garlic and onion do not contain dairy.
Herbs and Spices
Traditional ranch recipes rely on herbs like dill, parsley, chives, basil, and oregano to infuse flavor. Pepper and other spices are also sometimes added. Herbs and spices do not contain dairy.
Vinegar
White vinegar or apple cider vinegar is used by some recipes to boost the tangy flavor. Vinegar does not contain lactose or other dairy components.
Do Any Brands Offer Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing?
Because the traditional recipe relies heavily on dairy ingredients like mayonnaise, buttermilk, and sour cream, most mainstream brands of ranch dressing are not dairy-free. Popular brands like Hidden Valley Ranch and Kraft contain dairy.
However, some brands have developed dairy-free ranch dressings:
Follow Your Heart
Follow Your Heart offers a vegan ranch made with non-GMO expeller pressed oils, garlic, onion, and spices. It does not contain dairy, eggs, or cholesterol. The tangy flavor comes from apple cider vinegar and non-dairy cultures.
Ken’s Steakhouse
Ken’s Steakhouse has a ranch dressing made with a blend of olive oil, sunflower oil, vinegar, and spices. It is dairy-free, nut-free, and kosher. The creamy texture comes from sunflower lecithin rather than dairy products.
Newman’s Own
Newman’s Own Organics makes a ranch dressing with organic olive oil and non-GMO expeller pressed canola and/or safflower oil. It achieves tanginess with vinegar and lemon juice. The dairy-free dressing contains no cholesterol or artificial flavors.
Brianna’s
Brianna’s Homestyle ranch dressing has a mayonnaise-like base made from canola oil, apple cider vinegar, and garlic. It relies on non-dairy ingredients like onion, parsley, dill, and citrus to capture the classic flavor.
Kenko Ranch
Kenko Ranch is a vegan ranch dressing made from a base of cold pressed grapeseed oil, lemon juice concentrate, apple cider vinegar, and nutritional yeast. It is cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and certified kosher.
| Brand | Key Dairy-Free Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Follow Your Heart | Expeller pressed oils, apple cider vinegar |
| Ken’s Steakhouse | Olive oil, sunflower oil, vinegar |
| Newman’s Own | Olive oil, canola oil, vinegar, lemon juice |
| Brianna’s | Canola oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic |
| Kenko Ranch | Grapeseed oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast |
Can You Make Dairy-free Ranch at Home?
Yes, it is possible to make homemade dairy-free ranch dressing using ingredients like:
– Vegan mayonnaise – Made with oil, vinegar, and spices or tofu instead of eggs
– Plant-based milk – Such as almond, soy, oat, coconut
– Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice – For tanginess
– Garlic and onion
– Fresh or dried herbs like dill, parsley, basil, oregano
– Oil – Olive, avocado, grapeseed, sunflower
– Spices – Black pepper, mustard powder, paprika
You can also ferment dairy-free ranch dressing using a process similar to fermenting vegetables. This cultivates healthy probiotics and gives it a tangy flavor without vinegar.
Key steps include:
1. Blend soaked raw cashews into a creamy base along with non-dairy milk, salt, spices, herbs, garlic, and onion.
2. Transfer to a mason jar and top with brine (non-dairy milk and salt).
3. Allow to ferment for 3-10 days to develop the tangy flavor.
The fermentation process allows you to achieve the characteristic ranch tang without relying on vinegar or dairy products like buttermilk.
What Can You Use as a Non-Dairy Substitute for Buttermilk?
Cultured buttermilk is a key ingredient that gives traditional ranch its tangy zing. But buttermilk contains lactose since it comes from cow’s milk. Here are some tips for achieving a similar tangy flavor without buttermilk:
– Add lemon juice or vinegar – Start with 2-3 tablespoons per cup of non-dairy milk and adjust to taste
– Culture non-dairy milk – Allow plant-based milk to ferment for a couple days to develop tang
– Use cultured non-dairy milk – Try products like cultured coconut milk, cashew milk yogurt, soy yogurt
– Ferment the dressing – Follow the fermentation process steps above
– Add nutritional yeast – 1-2 tablespoons per cup provides a cheesy, tangy flavor
Getting creative with combinations of vinegar, lemon, fermented non-dairy products, and nutritional yeast can help non-dairy ranch achieve the ideal balance of creamy and tangy.
Is It Possible to Make Ranch Dressing Without Mayonnaise?
Yes, there are a couple different ways to make dairy-free ranch dressing without relying on traditional mayonnaise:
Use Vegan Mayonnaise
Swap in a vegan mayonnaise made without eggs or dairy. Brands like Just Mayo, Vegenaise, or Sir Kensington’s vegan mayo can provide the creamy base.
Make a Oil and Vinegar Emulsion
Whisk together a blend of oil, vinegar or lemon juice, mustard, salt, and spices. Slowly drizzle in the oil as you whisk vigorously to emulsify. Olive, avocado, grapeseed, or sunflower oil work well.
Puree Tofu, Soy Yogurt, or Cashews
Blend silken tofu, plain soy yogurt, or soaked raw cashews with non-dairy milk, lemon juice, garlic, dill, and onion to form the creamy base. The plant-based ingredients mimic mayonnaise.
Thicken Plant Milk with Starch
Whisk tapioca starch, potato starch, arrowroot, or kudzu powder into plant-based milk along with seasonings to create a thick, creamy dressing without mayo.
With some experimentation, you can definitely develop a tasty dairy-free and mayo-free ranch dressing. Getting the right balance of tangy, creamy, and herby takes some trial and error. Start simple and adjust ingredients like lemon juice, garlic, dill, and onion to match your tastes.
Can You Use Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream to Make Ranch Dairy-Free?
Unfortunately, Greek yogurt and sour cream are dairy products and not suitable ingredients when making dairy-free ranch dressing. Here are some substitutes you can use instead:
Replace Greek Yogurt with:
– Silken tofu
– Vegan yogurt made from soy, coconut, almond, or cashew milk
– Pureed avocado
– Cashew cream – Blend soaked raw cashews with water
Replace Sour Cream with:
– Tofutti Sour Supreme (vegan sour cream)
– Cashew cream
– Pureed avocado
– Plain vegan yogurt
The possibilities are somewhat endless for mimicking the texture and tang of Greek yogurt and sour cream with plant-based ingredients. Getting the fat and probiotic content right goes a long way when seeking to replicate the mouthfeel.
Some careful tasting and adjustments may be needed, but you can absolutely achieve a flavorful dairy-free ranch dressing without actual yogurt or sour cream.
Can Ranch Dressing Be Made Low Carb or Keto?
Yes, there are a few ways to create low carb and keto-friendly ranch dressing options:
Use Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
Swap regular mayo for a low carb avocado oil-based mayonnaise. Avocado oil has very few net carbs.
Try Full-Fat Greek Yogurt
Non-fat Greek yogurt often has added sugars. Opt for full-fat plain Greek yogurt which provides more fat and fewer carbs.
Vinegar and Oil Emulsion
Skip the mayo or yogurt and make ranch with vinegar, avocado oil or olive oil, and spices to control carbs.
Add Low Carb Thickeners
Use small amounts of xanthan gum, guar gum, or psyllium husk to thicken and emulsify ranch made with oils and vinegar.
Cauliflower Ranch
Puree riced raw cauliflower, Greek yogurt, vinegar, spices, and oils. The cauliflower provides few net carbs.
Cashew Cream Base
Soak and blend raw cashews into a thick cream along with oils and vinegar to make a keto-friendly ranch dressing base.
With some modifications, it’s certainly possible to enjoy flavorful and creamy low carb ranch dressing that fits a keto diet. Monitoring total carb counts is key.
What About Store Bought Ranch Dressing Packets?
Ranch dressing mix packets conveniently allow you to quickly whip up ranch by adding mayo and milk. However, most ranch packet mixes contain dairy-based ingredients like dried buttermilk. Read labels carefully to identify dairy-free options.
Some brands like Hidden Valley offer ranch packets that are dairy-free, gluten free, egg-free. They achieve the tangy flavor using potato starch, onion, spices, and vinegar powder rather than buttermilk.
So check ingredient lists closely on packet mixes – some can be made dairy-free by using mayo alternatives and non-dairy milk. But many traditional powder mixes do contain dairy-based ingredients.
The Bottom Line
Traditional ranch dressing relies heavily on dairy ingredients like buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, and milk to achieve its renowned creamy, tangy profile. So most mainstream brands of bottled ranch dressings contain dairy and are not vegan or dairy-free.
However, some specialty brands have formulated dairy-free ranch dressings using vegan mayonnaise, plant-based milks, oils, vinegar, and spices. With a few substitutions and adjustments, it’s also very possible to make homemade ranch dressing without dairy that rivals the flavor of traditional recipes. Getting creative with ingredients like lemon juice, nutritional yeast, avocado, cashews, and fermented non-dairy products can go a long way in mimicking the texture and zing of dairy-based ranch. While it takes some tweaking, ranch dressing can most definitely be enjoyed without the dairy by those following vegan, dairy-free, or low carb diets.
