This zesty, delicious healthy ranch dressing is rich, creamy and naturally low in fat. It's made using fresh herbs and comes together in under 5 minutes!
If you love ranch dressing but not necessarily the calories that usually come with it you will love this healthy ranch dip with yogurt.
The main culprit responsible for the huge amount of calories in traditional ranch sauce is mayonnaise. No, I did not swap full fat mayonnaise for a reduced fat alternative. Instead I used creamy yogurt along with a few other ingredients for added savouriness and to balance out the acidity of the yogurt.
Healthy ranch dressing ingredients
Healthy Ranch Dressing Ingredients.
Yogurt makes a delicious low fat alternative to mayonnaise in this ranch dressing recipe. I combined it with a little vegetable oil, lemon juice as well as small amounts of mustard, maple syrup and onion granules for more depth of flavour. I also used fresh garlic along with fresh herbs - chives, parsley and dill.
Recipe instructions
1. In a bowl combine all the ingredients (except the water).
2. Stir thoroughly, season to taste and add a little water to loosen the consistency if desired (optional).
3. Serve (or cover/transfer into a jar and chill to use later).
Top tips
- I used a combination of chives, parsley and dill but you can omit the parsley and/or dill or tweak the amounts to your preference.
- For best results I recommend using all the ingredients in the recipe (apart from the herbs). For me personally yogurt alone does not provide enough depth and the mustard, maple syrup and onion granules really enhance the flavour.
- I recommend using a garlic crasher or finely grating the garlic rather than chopping it.
- Herbs: for better texture use only the leaves (avoid the tough stalks).
- Don't forget to season your dressing.
- Not suitable for freezing.
Storing
As this ranch dressing contains fresh (rather than dried) herbs I recommend refrigerating it for no longer than 3 days in a jar.
Substitutions
- Use either full fat or reduced fat Greek/natural yogurt. Alternatively use kefir/buttermilk if you don't want the dressing to be very thick, or a combination of yogurt and kefir.
- I used vegetable oil but grapeseed oil or another neutral tasting oil (not olive) would be a good alternative.
Can I use dried herbs
For me fresh herbs add lots of flavour and a homemade feel to this ranch dressing but you can use dried herbs if you prefer (or can't get fresh). The amounts should be about 2 or 3 quarters less than fresh. If you also prefer to use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic use approx. ¼ teaspoon (or to taste).
Top tip
One advantage of using dried herbs is that your dressing is likely to stay fresh for longer (up to 5 days).
Serving suggestions
This ranch dressing can be served as a delicious accompaniment to salads, roasted vegetables, raw vegetable sticks, nachos or pesto chicken meatballs. I've enjoyed it alongside creamy healthy fish cakes and pistachio crusted fish. Try it also with crispy chicken leg quarters or spiced baked potato wedges.
You might also like
- Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Dip with Garlic & Skyr
- Roasted Kale Dip with Avocado
- Beetroot Hummus Recipe without Tahini
Keep in touch!
If you've made this healthy ranch dressing I'd love to know how it turned out for you. Did you make any swaps? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!
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Healthy Ranch Dressing with Fresh Herbs
Ingredients
- 250 g Greek/natural yogurt see *Notes
- 1½ tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove crushed or finely grated
- ½ tsp yellow/Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp onion granules
- 2 tbsp chives finely chopped
- 1 tbsp parsley leaves only, finely chopped
- 1 tsp dill leaves only, finely chopped
- Fine sea salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp water optional, see Instructions
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients (not the water) and stir thoroughly.
- Season to taste and add a little water to loosen the consistency if desired (optional). Serve immediately or refrigerate (for up to 3 days in a closed jar) for later.
Notes
- I used a combination of chives, parsley and dill but you can omit the parsley and/or dill or tweak the amounts to your preference.
- *Use either full fat or reduced fat Greek/natural yogurt. Alternatively use kefir/buttermilk if you don't want the dressing to be very thick, or a combination of yogurt and kefir.
- For best results I recommend using all the ingredients in the recipe (apart from the herbs). For me personally yogurt alone does not provide enough depth and the mustard, maple syrup and onion granules together really enhance the flavour.
- I recommend using a garlic crasher or finely grating the garlic rather than chopping it.
- Herbs: for better texture use only the leaves (avoid the tough stalks).
- Don't forget to season your dressing.
- As this ranch dressing contains fresh (rather than dried) herbs I recommend refrigerating it for no longer than 3 days in a jar.
- I used vegetable oil but grapeseed oil or another neutral tasting oil (not olive) would be a good alternative.
- Not suitable for freezing.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.
**A note about baking: If using a fan-assisted oven refer to your appliance's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.
I love a good dipping sauce and this sounds great! Thank you for sharing it with us at Fiesta Friday 🙂
Thank you Petra! Glad you like it:)
This sounds delicious with all the roasted potatoes I am making every week! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party! Have fun, Monika!
Thank you Jhuls! This dip is so super light, you can really enjoy an xl portion without feeling too full:)
Love this recipe Monika. The subs you have made are fantastic. Bookmarked x
Thank you!
This sounds gorgeous, Monika - and I love how you've made it lower in calories by using foods naturally lower in fat/calories rather than low fat mayo, which, like you, I can't stand...I've always been of the opinion it's better to eat less of the full fat version rather than lashings of the low fat alternative...not only is it better tastewise but I am learning that often the full fat versions of things are much better for you in terms of vitamins etc. Your ranch dipping sauce sounds like it is also fabulously nutritious!! Thanks for linking it up with #CookBlogShare 😀 Eb x
Thank you Eb! I don't like low fat products because I think the fat has been replaced with something, often sugar, so you aren't gaining very much by swapping full fat for low fat... Plus there is the flavour which is never as good, and also the nutritional value as you have pointed out:)
It sounds delicious and it's always good to have a lower fat version of a sauce like this.
Thanks Corina!
I always look for healthy ranch options..this looks perfect
Thank you Lathiya, even ranch can be made healthy...
This sounds really good Monika and much healthier than traditional ranch.
thanks Mandy, glad you think so:)