Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to be clicking along perfectly, then suddenly you remember you are supposed to bring a snack to share at your afternoon meet-up? Panic sets in for a quick moment while you search your mind (and your kitchen) for something you can quickly throw together.  You’ve got some veggies you can slice up, but no time to run to the store and grab some dip.  Not a problem if you have this Ranch Mix stashed in your cabinet.  You can whip up a dip to take with you in just a few minutes!

Tips & Tricks

We’re all busy these days.  Between kids, work, and school, we need life to be easier.  These tips and tricks are going to let you get the most use of your delicious Ranch Mix.

Make It Smooth

This mix is made using dried or freeze-dried herbs.  Some people like having bits and pieces of herbs in their dressing while others don’t.  If you find yourself in that second group you can get a much smoother dressing and dip by blending up your mix in a small blender or coffee bean grinder before using it.

Make the Most of It

Your Ranch Mix is incredibly versatile.  Use it to make a thick dip for chips or veggies.  Add some dairy-free milk to the dip to turn it into a salad dressing.  Use the dry mix as a seasoning blend for meat or vegetables.  If you are replacing a packet of store bought ranch mix in a recipe, use 1 ounce of this mix for each packet the recipe calls for.

What You’ll Need

My goal is to keep recipes as simple as possible for you.  Almost everything that you’ll need is standard grocery store fare with only one specialty ingredient.

Dried Herbs

This recipe calls for dried or freeze-dried chives, parsley, dill, and tarragon.  I find the texture better when using freeze-dried herbs (especially if you are blending your mix).  If you can’t find those at your local store, dried herbs will work, too.

Coconut Milk Powder

This is the only niche ingredient you may not have on hand, but I highly recommend stocking up.  It makes for a creamier dressing and comes in handy in a ton of other recipes.  I use the Native Forest brand.

Smart Substitutions

When you live the food-allergy life, making substitutions is par for the course.  The trick isn’t just replacing what you can’t have, it’s finding options that keep your food just as delicious as the original.  The most important step you can take to make that happen is to understand the reason the ingredient is used in the first place, then pick an alternative that fulfills that specific job.

Dairy

Not vegan or dairy-free?  This recipe will work just as well for you.  If you can eat anything, feel free to replace the coconut milk powder with regular powdered milk or powdered buttermilk in equal amounts.

Chives

If you aren’t able to find dried chives you can substitute onion powder, some extra dried parsley, and a little garlic powder.  Try 2 tsp parsley, 1 tsp onion powder, and about ½ tsp garlic powder.

Make Dairy-Free Ranch Mix

Keep this dairy-free Ranch Mix on hand as a pantry staple.  It’s perfect for salad dressing, dips for your snacks, or to season your dinner.  Share this recipe with your friends and family.  Remember to post the photos of your Ranch Mix and tag me on Instagram.