Monday, April 21, 2014

Avocado Ranch Dressing: Nostalgia Remixed



I’ve always had a weakness for Hidden Valley ranch dressing.  Not the bottled variety, but the dressing that develops as a result of using the Hidden Valley salad dressing & seasoning mix packets.  As a child, these dressing seasoning packets combined with a heaping bit of Duke’s mayonnaise, and as much buttermilk needed to bring on the desired consistency and flavor was how my grandmother adorned garden salads and sliced raw vegetables.

I was hooked: Grandmama, May I have a little salad with my ranch dressing, please!?!  
Though, I enjoy making ranch dressing of all types from foundational scratch – using various dried and fresh herbs, nostalgia keeps at least two packets of Hidden Valley dressing & seasoning mix in our cabinets at all times.  

You never know when your shortcut is going to need a shortcut. 
A couple weekends ago, I brought out one of these packets, and decided to mix it up a bit.

Using Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise or sour cream is common in our household. What was uncommon was the grand idea to add an avocado to this dressing. We had a perfectly ripe avocado sitting around.  If you know anything about having ripe avocados sitting around, you know that they can go from perfect to past their prime in no time. The addition of the avocado proved both popular and is now highly recommended. The result is a healthier, thicker, richer, flavorful, luscious dressing that could easily double as a dip (note to self).
Yummily speaking, I am sure both Grandmama and Hidden Valley Ranch would approve. You will too!

Avocado Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
Yield Approximately One (1) Quart of Dressing

The Method: The Ingredients
1 6oz container of plain Greek Yogurt
¼ cup of Duke's Mayonnaise
2 cups of reduced fat buttermilk
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing seasoning mix
1 large ripe avocado

No yogurt variation: This particular version proved very popular with our Napa Cabbage Garden Salad.

1 cup of Duke's Mayonnaise
2 cups, plus a little extra of reduced fat buttermilk
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing seasoning mix
1 lime, zest and juice
1 medium ripe avocado

The Madness: The Assembly

Add all ingredients into blender or food processor. Cut, peel, and slice your avocado. Add avocado flesh into the food processor/blender with the other ingredients. Pulse or blend ingredients until smooth. If your dressing proves too thick, add an additional ¼ - ½ cup of buttermilk then blend.


 That’s that!

Enjoy!
As always, xo, Bon Appégeechee

*This is not a sponsored post by Hidden Valley Ranch or Duke's Mayonnaise. All opinions are those of Bon Appégeechee.

2 comments:

  1. I love Hidden Valley Ranch packets! Can't stand the taste of bottled ranch. Love that you added avocado and greek yogurt! Then you don't have to feel so guilty that you drowned your salad in ranch dressing!

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  2. Precisely!! It was a REVELATION the first time we swapped out Greek yogurt in place of full sour cream or mayo in any recipe! No guilt at all!

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