Description
This creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip combines fresh avocado with tangy buttermilk and a blend of herbs and spices to create a versatile sauce perfect for salads, dipping, or spreading. Ready in just 5 minutes, it offers a healthier twist on classic ranch with reduced fat buttermilk and fresh ingredients for a flavorful, smooth dressing or dip.
Ingredients
Liquids and Base
- 1 cup reduced fat buttermilk (1.5%), divided
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ lime, juiced
Produce
- 1 large avocado (pitted and peeled)
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped Italian flat leaf parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried parsley)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (or 1 teaspoon dried chives)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Spices and Seasonings
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (plus additional to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add ½ cup reduced fat buttermilk, mayonnaise, avocado, parsley, dill, chives, minced garlic, onion powder, lime juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper into the bowl of a food processor.
- Pulse to Blend: Pulse the mixture until well combined and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed to ensure everything is incorporated evenly.
- Adjust Consistency: Add additional buttermilk, a little at a time, to achieve your desired thickness—more buttermilk for a pourable dressing or less for a thicker dip.
- Season to Taste: Taste the dressing and add extra salt and freshly ground black pepper if needed for enhanced flavor.
- Chill and Store: Transfer the avocado ranch to an airtight container or mason jar and refrigerate until ready to use. It keeps well refrigerated for up to one week.
Notes
- This dressing works perfectly both as a salad dressing and a creamy dip for vegetables or chips.
- Use fresh herbs where possible for the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted proportionally.
- If you prefer a more garlicky flavor, increase the minced garlic by half a teaspoon.
- Store in an airtight container and consume within 7 days for best freshness.
- Adjust the amount of lime juice to your taste for added brightness.
