In my house, ranch dressing reigns supreme. I’m talking about the good stuff hidden in a valley that comes in a bottle. I have tried many times to serve up homemade ranch dressing and received turned-up noses or a polite, “it’s ok.” Yup, things can be that brutal when everyone who lives with you thinks they’re a food critic. So, I’ve been on a mission to create a homemade ranch dressing mix and recipe that gets a major thumbs up. And it appears (according to my resident peanut gallery) that I just might have done it.
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A Better Ranch Dressing
Of course, I couldn’t leave well enough alone. I had to put an Italian spin on ranch dressing and for me it wasn’t just about the spices, but about the base. Ranch dressing typically calls on buttermilk and mayo which give the dressing that creamy mouthfeel and characteristic tang.
Instead of buttermilk, I brought in mascarpone, an Italian cheese made from sweet cream. Mascarpone gives the dressing the necessary creaminess and has the pop of tang while not being too heavy making it a great base for the spice blend. Plus I like saying it.
Join me, won’t you? MARS-CA-PŌ-NAY!
Secrets to the best homemade ranch dressing
- Spices.
- A granulated garlic powder works great so that the ranch lasts a bit in the fridge (you could use fresh minced garlic if you plan to serve the dressing within a couple of days.
- A blend of oregano, dill, mustard powder, onion powder.
- Milk for body.
- Mayo for texture
- Mascarpone cheese for sweet, rich flavor.
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Head over to my Salad Bar party page for some more Italian salad dressings and serving ideas that’ll make hosting a salad bar a blast!
MASCARPONE RANCH DRESSING PARTNERS
Looking for some ideas to serve with your Mascarpone Ranch Dressing? Any of these will be a big hit!
Mascarpone Ranch Dressing
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Equipment
- Hand mixer (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ cup milk, + a little extra if needed
- ½ tsp dry mustard
- ½ tsp dill weed
- ¼ tsp garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, EACH
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup mascarpone cheese, I use Trader Joe's
- 1 T mayonnaise, optional
Instructions
- Pour milk into a blender (or a medium bowl if using a hand-mixer).
- Add all spices.
- Blend on low to mix spices and milk together.
- Add mascarpone to blender and blend on low to incorporate.
- Add additional milk if needed. Taste and correct for seasoning. Add mayonnaise for a less herby flavor if needed.
- Stir, if needed, before serving. Store in sealed mason jar or container for up to 5-7 days.
Notes
- An Ergo Spout makes a great tool to serve the dressing. Put it right on top of your favorite regular mouth mason jar and you’re good to go!
I paid $10 for a Ranch Dressing at Whole Foods! While I think the cost was excessive, it was quite delish. This recipe tastes EXACTLY the same and I love it. Helped me use mascarpone that was languishing in the fridge. Highly recommend.
Having just got a Whole Foods nearby, I get the appeal and am so flattered you liked my version 😊 Thanks so much for taking the time to share, Terri…you made my day!
Love the recipe! but also want to know about the cute container you used for the pictures – they are awesome!
Can you share?
So glad you liked the ranch dressing 😊 and yes, that is an Ergo spout (affiliate link) that you just twist on the top of a Mason jar. They make them in several colors and sizes and are so handy!!
5 STARS!!!! (Weird bug won’t let me select 5 stars…)
This is amazing ranch dressing. I had mascarpone on hand and thought I’d give this a shot. Wow. I’m now going to only want to make this.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked it – it’s a definite sleeper recipe on my site that not many people know about. I think I need to share it more!😊 Thanks for the rating (hopefully it’s fixed now) and for taking the time to comment!
Amazing dressing! Grandkids love it!
Thank you Phyllis! So happy you all enjoyed it! Glad the kiddos especially loved it!❤️
This might possibly be the best ranch recipe I’ve ever seen. Making this for the rest of my life!
I must say – it’s a good one! Thanks Abbey!