I’ve yet to find a store-bought salad dressing that meets my standards. OK, I might be picky, but I want it to taste good AND be healthy. When you wander down that long aisle in the grocery store though, all you find is labels full of bad oils, preservatives, artificial “who knows what” and of course, sugar. Who needs sugar on their salad???
That led me on a quest to make my own. It had to be perfect: tasty, healthy, quick and kid-friendly. It didn’t need to taste like a knock off; it just needed to be delicious. AND THIS IS!
Now, full disclosure here: this version is only partly kid-friendly. One of the boys prefers Hidden Valley Ranch so when I make it for him, I have to make a few adjustments. I’ll post that version soon, too.
If you try it, let me know what you think. If you don’t like it, I’ll come over and eat it!
Ranch Dressing (a.k.a. Secret Sauce)
1 egg
1 c olive oil (not extra virgin)
1 t dried mustard
½ t salt
½ t garlic powder
½ t dried chives
½ t dried dill
½ t dried parsley
¼ t black pepper
¼ t onion powder
1-2 T lemon juice
Place all of the ingredients, except the lemon juice, in a jar that is slightly wider than an immersion blender. Put the immersion blender inside the jar, all the way at the bottom. Turn it on, keeping the blender all the way at the bottom until you see the emulsion start. (That’s the fancy term for the oil and water combining into a creamy substance, like mayo.) Slowly raise the blender up to complete the mixing. When it’s all mixed, add the lemon juice and give it another spin.
It’s pretty thick at this point – perfect for putting a spoonful on just about anything you want. I often add a small amount of water (2-4 T), put the lid on and give it a shake if I’m going to use it as a salad dressing.
Enjoy!
P.S. Sorry there’s no printable version – I’m not that tech savvy…yet!