Homemade Kefir Ranch Dressing

This kefir ranch dressing recipe is an easy take on an American classic. With a creamy, tart edge and plenty of herbs, this dressing is just as delicious as a dip as it is drizzled over your favorite salad. It’s also a great way to incorporate probiotic foods into your family’s diet.

What is it?

Ranch dressing was developed in the 1940s by Steve Henson. By the late 1950s, the dressing had become commercially available and popular. The original dressing combines buttermilk, mayonnaise, and herbs such as parsley, dill, garlic, and chives with onion, mustard, and black pepper.

In this version, kefir replaces the buttermilk. Like buttermilk, kefir tastes creamy with a slightly tart edge.  It’s also a great source of live cultures and beneficial bacteria.

Why this recipe works

• Kefir is an excellent substitute for buttermilk since it shares a creamy character and slightly sour flavor. 
• Kefir is a naturally fermented food. That means you get the added bonus of plenty of probiotics.
• It’s easy to make. Just gather your ingredients, and whisk them together.  It takes about 5 minutes flat.
• Store-bought dressings typically contain quite a few nasty preservatives and inflammatory oils. Homemade ranch dressing has cleaner ingredients, and that translates to a healthier dressing that tastes better, too.

Key Ingredients

Naturally, kefir is the foundation of the recipe, replacing the buttermilk called for in the original version. In addition to kefir, you’ll also find dried herbs, olive oil, vinegar, and mayonnaise.

• Kefir gives homemade ranch dressing a creamy quality and a pleasant, slightly sour flavor. It’s also loaded with good-for-your-gut probiotics.
• Mayonnaise helps to keep the dressing emulsified and gives it body. You can use a store-bought mayonnaise or make your own homemade avocado oil mayo instead.
• Alliums are members of the onion family, and they give kefir ranch dressing a savory quality. Chives, onion, and garlic are essential ingredients.
• Herbs typically include parsley and dill in addition to chives.
• Olive oil and vinegar help to balance the flavor and thin the dressing a touch so that it’s easier to pour.

Tips for Making Ranch Dressing

Making kefir ranch dressing is easy.  You assemble the ingredients in a single bowl and whisk them until the dressing is combined. But there are a few extra tips you’ll want to remember as you make this recipe.

• Store-bought mayonnaise allows the dressing to last longer. Homemade mayonnaise has a short shelf life.
• An immersion blender or upright blender will combine all the ingredients easily, but whisking them works just as well.
• Fresh kefir works best in this recipe, and kefir that has started to separate will give your dressing an unpleasant cheesy flavor that can border on too sour.
• If you prefer fresh herbs to dried herbs, triple the volume called for in the recipe.

How to Serve It

You can serve kefir ranch dressing just as any homemade ranch dressing.  It’s excellent as a dip for sliced fresh vegetables or even fermented vegetables such as these fermented carrots.

Naturally, it’s an excellent salad dressing, especially with tender lettuces such as Bibb or Buttercrunch. It’s also good drizzled over Burger Bowls.

Variations + Substitutions

Swap sour cream or buttermilk for some of the kefir.  Sour cream will give the dressing a creamier, richer flavor.

Tarragon is a nice addition to the dressing. It works well with the creamy, sour notes of kefir.

Homemade yogurt is also delicious in this recipe. If you use yogurt instead of kefir, you may need to increase the olive oil and vinegar because yogurt is thicker than kefir.

Apple cider vinegar is a fine replacement for the white wine vinegar.

Lemon juice can also stand in for the white wine vinegar if that’s all you have.

Add an avocado to the dressing and blend it with the other ingredients.  It gives the dressing a luscious, creamy flavor.

Love this recipe? You'll like these salads, too.

Recipe Questions