For a herbaceous avocado-based dressing, make this avocado pesto salad dressing next!
Avocado: Using creamy avocado omits the need for heavy dairy in this ranch! Other ingredients: mayonnaise, parsley, lemon juice, fresh dill, green onion, water, salt, and pepper.
Herbs: Exaggerate or play with the herby flavor by blending in additional fresh herbs – chives, parsley, or cilantro all taste great. If you don’t have fresh herbs, dried herbs can work, too. Avocado lime ranch: For a zesty twist, make an avocado lime ranch dressing by subbing the citrus. Simply use lime juice in place of the lemon juice. Garlic: Mince up some garlic and add it to the blender to deepen the savory profile – keep in mind that raw garlic is a little bit more pungent than when it’s cooked. Spicy kick: Blend in some jalapenos for a little tingly heat if you would like a spicy avocado ranch dressing! Spices: A pinch of paprika or chipotle will add a hint of smokiness, use garlic powder, or some cumin for warmth.
Color: Ripe avocados have a darker skin – it’s a dark green, almost black color. Look for ones that have this hue. Touch: Hold your avocado and gently apply pressure with your thumb. It should give in just a little bit, without being too mushy or feeling hollow. Stem: Remove the little stem to see underneath it – if it’s green, you’re good to go! If it’s brown, the avocado’s best days are behind it. Weight: You want your avocado to feel heavy for its size, which is a sign that the creamy fleshy part is well developed.
If you’ve done all of this and you still can’t find a ripe avocado, you can use a little trick to help underripe avocados develop into ranch-dressing-ready ones! Simply pop the avocados in a paper bag with an apple or banana, close the bag, and set it on your counter. The fruit releases ethylene gas that helps the avocado’s ripening process.
Healthy snack: Use it to dunk in your favorite veggies, like sticks of carrots or cucumbers for a healthy snack. Finger foods: Dunk carrot fries, sweet potato wedges, fried chicken bites, cauliflower bites, or baked chicken nuggets. Sandwiches, burgers, and wraps: On this cauliflower burger, on baja fish tacos or buffalo chicken tacos, or in swiss chard wraps. Salads: Pour some over salads, like this grilled buffalo chicken salad (pictured below) or a loaded baked potato salad. Pizza: Drizzle some avocado ranch over a pizza loaded with your favorite toppings for a refreshing and creamy finish. Other: Honestly, put it on anything! On a baked potato, over corn salsa, nachos, burrito bowls, or just eat it straight from the spoon… trust us on this. We’ve tried it!
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