Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe with homemade buttermilk

Making buttermilk at home started as a quest for fresh homemade butter. Just pour a cup and a half of heavy cream in a jar, seal tight and shake it vigorously for about 15-20 minutes. If you do not give up you will end up with smooth, yellow gobs of butter floating in a thick well of creamy, white buttermilk and maybe sore upper arms. Drain the buttermilk into a bowl and store the butter after addition of some salt. For prolonged storage (over a week) of the butter ensure that all the buttermilk has been drained from the butter.

This will give you about a little more than a cup of buttermilk. For creating the buttermilk ranch dressing add about 2 cups of thick whole milk yogurt (or greek yogurt) and blend it lightly till all looks smooth. Keep aside.

To the above mixture we will add the following (mix all these ingredients in a bowl before adding to the above buttermilk mix):

• 3 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup freshly and finely chopped parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh dill (optional)
• 1 teaspoon freshly chopped chives (optional)
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon flavorful olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves (crushed and mashed with kosher salt to extract the most flavor)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
• Combine all ingredients in a quart jar. Stir well with a fork or seal tightly and shake. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. 

Inspirations for recipe and other salad dressings:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/buttermilk-ranch-dressing-with-bibb-lettuce-recipe/index.html

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/homemade-ranch-dressing/

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/homemade_buttermilk_ranch_dressing/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/buttermilk-ranch-dressing-with-bibb-lettuce-recipe/index.html

http://www.simplebites.net/three-homemade-salad-dressing-recipes-better-for-you-better-for-your-wallet/

Next dressing I hope to try is called Green Goddess and this one will need anchovies & loads of parsley fro the green texture :) 

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/green_goddess_dressing/