Jalapeño Cilantro Ranch Dressing
Are you looking for an easy way to spice up your salad? Making this delicious Jalapeno cilantro ranch dressing is easy and quick and will allow you to update a typical salad in minutes. All you need is your food processor and a few ingredients, and you’ll have a tasty dressing that works for a variety of salads and can function as a vegetable dip. This recipe makes approximately 1.5 cups, or about 12 individual servings (2 tablespoons per serving).
One thing I love about this recipe is that it simply adds fresh ingredients to you regular ranch dressing. In an effort to be healthy and consume clean foods, I’m always looking for ways to contribute fresh vegetables into my recipes. I’ve listed out the ingredients in the amount that you will need to prepare the dressing and also the amount that’s easiest to buy at the grocery store to keep your shopping trip simple.
Shopping List
- 1 head of fresh cilantro
- 1 large fresh tomatillo (or two small)
- 1 fresh lime (for 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lime juice)
- 1 white onion (1/8 cup chopped)
- 1 fresh jalapeño
- Ground black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Your favorite ranch dressing (I use this one) or ranch dip (for thick version)
- Regular sour cream
- Extra virgin olive oil
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, tightly packed
- 1/8 cup chopped white onion
- 1 large (or 2 small) chopped tomatillo
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon chopped jalapeño (1/4 for mild version)
- 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1/4 cup regular ranch dressing, I use this one
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
It may take a few minutes to chop the onion, jalapeño, and tomatillo, but making this dressing takes no time at all. Simply place all ingredients into your food processor and purée for approximately 8-12 seconds, or until ingredients are thoroughly blended. If you prefer a slightly thicker dressing you can add a little more sour cream. To make an even thicker vegetable dip, you can substitute regular ranch dip for the ranch dressing.
I used 1/4 teaspoon of chopped fresh jalapeño and I would consider this to be mild. You can definitely add more to make a dressing with an extra kick. Keep in mind that fresh jalapeño is much hotter than the canned version, so add with caution!
I love this dressing so much that I’ve been dipping tortilla chips into my leftovers. I found that it keeps well for 3 days max in the fridge. I was definitely feeling indulgent when I fried up some chicken tenders and added avocado to these greens. It wasn’t the healthiest of salads, but thanks to the dressing, the flavor was perfect. I encourage you to tweak the recipe however you see fit. With these fresh ingredients and peppery taste, you won’t be disappointed with this dressing.