Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe (2024)

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Probiotic-rich kefir ranch dressing is a delicious way to add beneficial bacteria to your favorite foods. Top fresh greens with this dressing to make a salad bursting with flavor, or use it as a dip. This is a great way to add probiotics into your family’s diet.

Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe (1)

A few weeks back, I shared three of our family’s favorite salad dressings, but I wanted to share this kefir ranch dressing in addition to those, since it has the addition ofhomemade milk kefir.

It’s a delicious way to get healthy probiotics in, and a great way for kids (or adults!) to take probiotics if they are picky about fermented foods. This dressing is delicious as a dip for carrots or celery, or poured over salad.

Or, if you are midwestern… on pizza, on breadsticks, on anything.

I’ve made this recipe many different ways, including with an avocado blended in, but today I want to show you just the basic version. As you can imagine, though, this is a great backdrop for other flavors. Avocado ranch, bacon ranch, chipotle ranch – you are only limited by your imagination.

This recipe is so simple to make, and is really delicious on fresh greens or a homemade salad at lunch time.

If you are new to fermenting, this is a great recipe to start with. If you’re not-so-new to fermenting, or you’re looking for some inspiration, take a minute to check out my many recipes onfermented foods.

Just make sure that you start slow; eating fermented foods can be a bit of a learning process, and it’s good to take your time and start incorporating them slowly into your diet and lifestyle.

If making your own kefir seems too intimidating, you can make this recipe using store-bought kefir.

After you gain some confidence, try making it at home. It is really easy; you just have to be a little patient.

Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe (2)

Tips for making Kefir Ranch Dressing:

  • You can use fresh or dried herbs. Whatever you have on hand will work great.
  • Use a garlic press to chop the garlic more finely (and really easily).
  • If you have a basic Oster blender, you can just put the ingredients in a normal mouth mason jar, screw the blender base onto the jar itself, and blend it right in the mason jar.
  • Change the recipe up a bit to suit your tastes. You could add fresh cilantro or some avocado to give it a more Tex-Mex flair.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosurehere.

Tools you will need:

Blender

Garlic press – not totally necessary, but makes chopping garlic 100% easier.

Measuring spoon

Glass jar

How To Make Kefir Dressing Video Tutorial

How To Make Kefir Ranch Dressing

Kefir Ranch Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk kefir – homemade or store-bought

1/2 cup mayo – I use my avocado oil mayo.

1 tsp fresh garlic

1 tsp dried chives

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp onion powder

fresh black pepper

1 tsp dill

1 tsp parsley

Juice of 1/4 of a lemon or 1 drop of lemon essential oil. Today I’m using 1/2 of a lime because that is what I have on hand.

Directions:

Put everything into a blender.

Blend until smooth.

Enjoy. That’s it. Simple right?

What is milk kefir?

Milk kefir is a fermented drink that is made by soaking milk in kefir grains, which is the combination of bacteria and yeast. Placing milk with kefir grains and then allowing it to ferment in a warm place allows the good bacteria grow and produces a probiotic milk drink similar to a thin yogurt.

Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe (3)

Benefits Of Milk Kefir:

Milk kefir is full of gut-healthy probiotics. We talk a lot about probiotic foods, and milk kefir in particular can help control blood sugars, lower cholesterol, improve gut health and digestion, and many more. (source)

How do you strain kefir?

Check out my post onhow to make milk kefirwhere I show you all the tips and tricks.

What does milk kefir taste like?

It tastes like a slightly tart or even a little sour milk, almost like yogurt, but milk kefir has a slight sweetness to it and is a little bubbly.

Check out our favorite fermented recipes straight from the farmhouse:

  • How to Make Homemade Water Kefir Soda
  • Lacto Fermented Salsa Recipe
  • How To Make Fermented Jalapeños
  • How To Make Sour Cream From Raw Milk

Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe Card

Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe (4)

Kefir Ranch Dressing

Probiotic-rich kefir ranch dressing is a delicious way to add beneficial bacteria to your favorite foods. Creamy and bursting with flavor from herbs, this recipe will become a family favorite.

4.51 from 53 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Author: Lisa Bass

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup milk kefir homemade or store-bought
  • 1/2 cup mayo I use my avocado oil mayo
  • 1 teaspoon fresh garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried chives
  • Fresh black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dill
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Juice of 1/4 of a lemon or 1 drop of lemon essential oil

Instructions

  • Place in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy.

  • Store in a air tight container in the fridge.

Notes

  • I’ve made this recipe many different ways, including with an avocado blended in, but today I want to show you just the basic version. As you can imagine, though, this is a great backdrop for other flavors. Avocado ranch, bacon ranch, chipotle ranch – you are only limited by your imagination.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 463IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe (5)

Kefir Ranch Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is kefir better for your gut than yogurt? ›

Both are good for you, but the main difference is kefir has more probiotics and a bit less sugar than yogurt. So if you want one for your gut health, kefir is better.

What does kefir taste like? ›

Kefir has a tart and tangy flavor and a consistency similar to drinkable yogurt. Due to the fermentation process, kefir may taste slightly carbonated. This happens because the microbes produce gases as they digest the sugars in the milk.

What is the ranch dressing that restaurants use? ›

Most restaurants don't buy pre packaged ranch. They buy hidden valley seasoning and mix it themselves with ingredients they already have.

What happens to your body when you drink kefir everyday? ›

Studies suggest that it boosts your immune system, aids in digestive problems, improves bone health, and may even combat cancer. Get started with kefir today to make the most of this tasty, sour drink.

Does kefir flatten your stomach? ›

Several studies now also suggest that kefir can help reduce visceral fat levels in the body. Probiotics can alter the make-up of your gut microbiome. Some of them even play a role in weight regulation. Bacteria from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus family are found to help lose belly fat.

How long does it take for kefir to heal your gut? ›

Nutritionists and healthcare professionals suggest that regularly drinking kefir may improve health in 2-4 weeks. The several health benefits of kefir include improving heart, gut, kidney, liver, and skin health. Kefir also has anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects.

Does kefir spike blood sugar? ›

Studies have shown that consumption of one cup of kefir daily decreased fasting blood glucose and HbA1C levels, as well as decreased inflammatory cytokines.

How long does kefir last in the fridge? ›

Once strained, keep kefir in the fridge. This will slow down the fermentation by the microbes. It should remain pleasantly useable for seven to 10 days. It will not 'go off' as such, as it's already fermented, but the flavour might become rather strong.

What should you not mix with kefir? ›

We do not recommend mixing maple syrup, agave, or honey with your kefir. Maple syrup and agave have a high GI rating, which disrupts your microbiome. Honey is a natural antibiotic, which interferes with the good probiotics in the kefir.

How do you sweeten kefir without sugar? ›

Honey or Agave Syrup (sparingly): If you're open to a minimal amount of sweetness, you can use a tiny drizzle of honey or agave syrup, but be careful not to overdo it.

Is store-bought kefir good? ›

While both are still healthy choices, you are not getting the full spectrum at the full potency (some brands advertise 10 strains, genuine kefir has upwards of 40-60 strains) that home-made kefir with kefir grains will give. You may notice that most store-bought kefir is not carbonated.

How do restaurants make their ranch so good? ›

Even when a restaurant does start with premade ranch, they will often fold in extra fresh herbs, and maybe even more buttermilk, to lighten and bring in some brighter flavors that can be lost in shelf-stable bottling.

Why is restaurant ranch so creamy? ›

While many restaurants use mass produced ranch mix, they often add it to a higher-quality base. This might include milk, buttermilk, sour cream, or mayonnaise. So when you notice that the ranch in a restaurant tastes better than the bottled dressing from the store, what you're really tasting is delicious, creamy fat.

Does kefir actually improve gut health? ›

“Like other foods that contain probiotics (good bacteria) and postbiotics (bacteria byproducts), kefir boosts gut health and provides a number of other health benefits.”

How often should I drink kefir for gut health? ›

Kefir is most often used by adults in doses of 400-500 mL by mouth daily for up to 4 weeks. Lower doses of 100-180 mL daily have been used for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

How long does it take for kefir to improve gut health? ›

Nutritionists and healthcare professionals suggest that regularly drinking kefir may improve health in 2-4 weeks. The several health benefits of kefir include improving heart, gut, kidney, liver, and skin health. Kefir also has anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects.

Are there more probiotics in kefir than yogurt? ›

Kefir has three times the amount of probiotics as yogurt. It has 12 active probiotic strains and 15 to 20 billion colony-forming units (CFUs). Yogurt contains one to five active probiotic strains and only six billion CFUs.

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