Description
Homemade cilantro lime ranch dressing blends zesty herbs with creamy buttermilk for a tangy southwestern-style sauce. Cool ranch flavors complement salads, tacos, and grilled meats with refreshing lime and herbal notes.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup buttermilk (120 ml / 4 fl oz)
- ½ cup mayonnaise (120 ml / 4 fl oz)
- ½ cup sour cream (120 ml / 4 fl oz)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped (60 ml / 2 fl oz)
- 2 tbsps fresh lime juice (30 ml / 1 fl oz)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk buttermilk, mayonnaise, and sour cream in a medium mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Finely chop fresh cilantro leaves and incorporate them into the creamy base, adding lime juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to create a vibrant and complex flavor profile.
- Mixing Technique: Blend all ingredients thoroughly, ensuring even distribution of herbs and seasonings throughout the dressing for a harmonious taste experience.
- Flavor Refinement: Conduct a taste test and adjust seasonings as needed, fine-tuning the balance of tangy, herbal, and savory notes.
- Resting and Infusion: Transfer the dressing to a sealed container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, creating a more robust and integrated taste.
- Serving Preparation: Before serving, gently stir the dressing to reincorporate any natural separation, then drizzle over salads or use as a dynamic dipping sauce for various dishes.
Notes
- Boost Herb Freshness: Chop cilantro just before mixing to preserve its vibrant green color and maximize its bright, citrusy flavor profile.
- Control Consistency: Adjust buttermilk quantity to create a thicker or thinner dressing based on your preferred texture for salads or dipping.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Let the dressing chill for at least 30 minutes to allow herbs and spices to fully blend, intensifying the overall taste experience.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap full-fat ingredients with Greek yogurt or low-fat alternatives for a lighter, healthier version without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 156
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 265 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 22 mg