Green Goddess Ranch Dressing

The greatest thing about making your own salad dressings (aside from knowing you won’t end up with preservative-laden glop) is the fact that you can mix and match and tweak all your favorite elements from your favorite dressings.  Like many people, I love ranch dressing.  I also love green goddess dressing, which was also my beloved Mammo’s favorite, and basil.  So, I took the components of both and mixed them together to make my new favorite dressing–green goddess ranch.

It’s got the creamy taste and texture of ranch with an extra kick of garlic and the distinct brightness of summer’s freshest herbs.  It’s a great way to use all those herbs from your summer garden and it’s ultra flexible.  Don’t have/don’t like tarragon?  Leave it out.  Love basil or have tons of it to use up?  Go heavy on the basil and you’ll end up with a delicious pesto ranch flavor.  To take it up even one more notch, try blending the dressing and a tiny pinch extra salt with some avocado just before serving.  Either way, it’s perfection.

Green Goddess Ranch Dressing

an “Apple a Day” original

Ingredients:

3/4 c. low-fat mayonnaise

3/4 c. low-fat sour cream or Greek yogurt

1 c. low-fat buttermilk

1/4 c. fresh chives, coarsely chopped

1/4 c. fresh parsley

2 TBSP fresh tarragon

2 TBSP fresh basil

1 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP fresh lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. sea salt

avocado, if desired

Directions:

1.  Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until thoroughly combined.  Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.