Creamy, Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing: A Healthy Twist on a Classic

We all have our go-to dressing that makes salads sing and those pesky veggies appetizing. According to most surveys you’ll find, that dressing is ranch for the majority of people. That makes sense. It’s creamy. It’s savory. Sometimes it can be a little punchy. But traditional ranch has dairy and eggs, so what about the people who choose to not consume dairy or eggs, or those who can’t because of allergies? We’re here to provide you with an extremely simple dairy-free and vegan ranch dressing.

Why Go Dairy-Free?

Whether you're lactose intolerant, have dairy allergies, or simply prefer a plant-based diet, there are plenty of reasons to choose dairy-free alternatives. And cutting back on the cow milk products can improve digestion for many people. But cutting out the dairy doesn’t mean sacrificing the flavor.

The Perfect Plant-Based Swap

This vegan and dairy-free ranch dressing recipe swaps out typical ingredients like buttermilk and mayo for plant-based alternatives, resulting in a tangy, herbaceous dip. And the best part is that you can customize it to your heart’s content to suit your preferences!

Ingredients

• 2 cups non-dairy plain yogurt (Silk’s Plain Almondmilk Dairy-Free Yogurt Alternative is a good option)
• 1½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• ½ tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• Salt to taste

How to Make It

1. In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well until all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
2. If the dressing is too thick for your liking, simply add a splash of plant-based milk until you reach your desired consistency.
3. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Feel free to get creative and add extra ingredients like cayenne pepper for a spicy kick or cooked spinach for added nutrition. Sometimes we like to make things interesting and use black cumin or replace the regular salt with kala namak.
4. Transfer the dressing to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate for at least a few hours to allow the flavors to really meld together.

Versatile and Delicious

With this vegan, dairy-free ranch dressing, the possibilities are endless! Of course, you can be traditional and dip your favorite veggies, chips, or even pizza crust into. But there’s no reason to stop there. Drizzle it over salads or grains like rice or quinoa, or use it as a creamy pasta sauce. Get creative and make it your own! Now you know that you can go egg- and dairy-free and still enjoy a delicious, creamy ranch dressing!