Homemade Ranch Powder

I love ranch dressing. I love it on pizza, on salads, on french fries. However, when I met my significant other I realized that he loves ranch way more than I do, yet he had not been able to enjoy ranch in a long time.

Most commercial ranches are made with soybean oil, and having a soy allergy that is just out of the question. What about those little packages of ranch powder? You might ask...

Well, my issue with them is that they contain MSG (something else he is allergic to) and they have so many darn ingredients that I cannot pronounce, so I think I will pass. So after looking for a ranch recipe I found one I liked and tweaked it to my taste. Made it simpler and HEALTHIER!

This ranch powder recipe contains one special ingredient: Buttermilk Powder. You need 1/3 cup.

This is my favorite brand, it is found on the shelves with the baking supplies and it is very shelf stable. It is fairly inexpensive (runs about 5 bucks at Walmart) But this is my lifesaver when it comes to buttermilk in baked goods. Most buttermilks contain a modified food starch, and unless it is identified, I cannot trust it. Anyway, I highly recommend this product.

The rest of the ingredients are staples of my pantry:

2 Teaspoons of each of the following: Dill Weed, Onion Flakes, Onion Powder, Granulated Garlic, Chives, Salt, and Pepper.

The recipe is easy, you measure all of the ingredients and mix them, store them in an airtight container in the refigerator.

I add 3-4 tablespoons of the mixure to 8oz of sour cream for a thick ranch, and add a little milk to thin it out for a dressing consistency. Now go and enjoy this simple and healthier version of a classic. You should try it out on the cottage cheese dip.