Homemade Probiotic Ranch
[This Homemade Probiotic Ranch is a gut-friendly makeover on traditional ranch dressing!]
When K and I were still living in Athens, we were invited to a barbecue.
I had never met these friends before, but they’d heard that K had swept an American girl off her feet. And that this American girl had since become his permanent plus one.
We arrived, introductions were made, and my new friends began showing us around the enormous amount of food they’d prepared. Greeks are known for being hospitable, so I wasn’t surprised when they presented me with my very own bottle of ranch dressing.
“We bought this for you because we know that in America you love ranch!”
Surprised, no. Embarrassed, a little.
Of course that guess was pretty spot on, and my teenage calorie intake was approximately 1/3 ranch dressing. But it was embarrassing because ranch had come to be known as the oxymoron of salad dressings, destroying the health benefits of anything it was globbed over.
But a strange, beautiful thing has happened. Fat has slowly begun to clear its name. And classic, nostalgia-inducing ranch dressing made with high quality ingredients is experiencing a revival of sorts (according to Bon Appetit).
It certainly has at my house!
But I’m talkin’ homemade ranch; the oddly non-perishable bottled stuff is not invited to this ranch comeback party.
We actually absorb more of the vitamins in vegetables when we eat them with a little fat. But we need the kind of fat that is found in nature. (i.e. not highly processed oils like soybean oil, or canola oil). The real egg yolks, pressed oils, and dairy fat in a good homemade version is what we’re after.
So here’s how this probiotic ranch goes down:
- Start with some really good sour cream or crème fraîche (to amp up the flavor and probiotic health benefits, make your own–it’s easy!)
- Add in some homemade mayonnaise (It takes less than 1 minute and you will never look back!!!)
- Thin it out with some kefir (I used store bought, but you can make that too if you’re feeling extra ambitious)
Kefir is fermented milk, sort of like drinkable yogurt. And it’s one of the highest probiotic foods you can eat according to Dr. Axe. There are more than a few reasons why you should throw it into your grocery basket on your next shopping trip.
Benefits of Kefir:
- Fights cancer
- Supports detoxification
- Boosts immunity
- Builds bone density
- Helps allergies and asthma
- Improves digestive issues
I love it in homemade probiotic ranch, of course, but I also add it to smoothies or anywhere you might use buttermilk, like pancakes.
Secret flavor ingredient alert!
So once you have your base it’s time to season! There are the usual suspects of chives, dill, onion, and parsley, but the secret ingredient here is organic white miso paste.
Lots of store bought ranch dressing contains MSG, which is one reason you feel like you can’t stop eating it. Adding the miso paste really gives the ranch that umami punch without the negative health effects of MSG.
I usually avoid soy, but fermenting soy increases its nutrition and nutrient availability, and adds gut-friendly bacteria. Just be sure to look for organic as soy is heavily sprayed with pesticides.
There it is. Reincarnated ranch that looks, tastes, and feels like the classic and comes packed with a probiotic punch.
Make it. Get nostalgic. Do all the guilt-free finger licking you’d like.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (preferably homemade or Primal Kitchen Mayo)
- 1/2 cup sour cream or crème fraîche (preferably homemade)
- 1/4-1/2 cup kefir
- 1/4-1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp organic white miso paste
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tbs fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 tbs fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- squeeze of lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add vinegar and miso paste in a bowl or glass jar and mix to combine.
- Add remaining ingredients, thinning ranch to your desired consistency with kefir.
- Store in refrigerator and use within 1 week.
Notes
If you use store bought sour cream, look for organic options without additives or preservatives. If you use store bought mayo, Primal Kitchen has a great one made with avocado oil!
2 responses to “Homemade Probiotic Ranch”
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That’s funny that we Americans have that stereotype to people in other countries! Homemade ranch is just the best though. No store-bought bottle compares and it’s really not that difficult to make at home. I need to try this probiotic version soon! What a clever idea to use kefir!
Haha yep they think we cover everything we eat in ranch, which is pretty much what I did when I was a teenager!