Okay, so, I’ve been totally obsessed with California Pizza Kitchen lately. Specifically, their ranch dressing. It’s just so creamy and herby, you know? I just had to figure out how to make it at home. So I started my little experiment in the kitchen.
First, I grabbed my phone and started googling. Found a bunch of recipes, but none of them seemed quite right. Some were missing that tangy flavor, I mean come on, a ranch without tanginess is not a real ranch. Then I remembered what I read online, “the tanginess is what makes ranch so distinct.” So, I knew I needed some lemon juice or vinegar in there.
Then I hit the grocery store. I wandered around the produce section, picking up fresh dill, parsley, and chives. I figured fresh herbs would make a huge difference compared to the dried stuff. Snagged a lemon too, just in case. Back home, I laid out all my ingredients on the counter.
I started chopping the herbs really fine. I love the smell of fresh herbs, it instantly brightens up my kitchen. Next, I grabbed a bowl and started mixing. I used a base of mayonnaise and buttermilk. Then, I added a good squeeze of lemon juice because, you know, I need that zesty flavor. I could have used vinegar but I’m team lemon juice.
Now for the herbs. I tossed those in, along with some garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. I whisked everything together until it was nice and smooth. I dipped my finger in for a taste and wow, it was pretty close to the original CPK ranch dressing!
I made a big salad to go with it – lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, the works. Drizzled my homemade ranch all over it. It was seriously so good. I even used it as a dip for some leftover pizza. Honestly, it was delicious, I will make this again.
I kept tweaking the recipe a bit each time I made it. Sometimes I add a little more lemon, sometimes a little more dill. It’s fun to play around with it. Now, I always have a jar of this homemade ranch in my fridge. It’s so much better than the store-bought stuff, and I know exactly what’s in it.
So, yeah, that’s my story of how I cracked the code to California Pizza Kitchen’s ranch dressing. It was a fun little kitchen adventure, and now I get to enjoy that deliciousness whenever I want!
- Ingredients I used:
- Mayonnaise
- Buttermilk
- Fresh dill
- Fresh parsley
- Fresh chives
- Lemon juice
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
My tips for you:
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with the herbs and lemon juice to get the flavor just right for you.
- Use fresh ingredients.
