Ranch Dressing

A low FODMAP ranch dressing of mayonnaise, lactose-free sour cream and buttermilk, fresh chives, dill, parsley, and lemon.

Prep 10 min

Cook 1 min

Serves 8

Gluten-freeVegetarian

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 g) mayonnaise (check the label and avoid any with added garlic, onion powder, or HFCS)
• 1/3 cup (80 g) lactose-free sour cream (or plain lactose-free Greek yogurt)
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) lactose-free buttermilk, plus more to thin
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives (or green tops of scallions only, no white bulb)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 tablespoon garlic-infused olive oil (optional, for a stronger garlic note)

Instructions

Whisk the base

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, lactose-free sour cream, and lactose-free buttermilk together until smooth.
2. Add the lemon juice, mustard powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic-infused oil if using. Whisk again until no streaks remain.

Fold in the herbs

1. Stir in the chives, dill, and parsley until evenly distributed.
2. Taste and adjust with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
3. For a thinner, pourable dressing, whisk in more lactose-free buttermilk a tablespoon at a time. For a dip, leave it thick.

Rest

1. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving; the herbs need a little time to bloom into the base.
2. Whisk again before serving in case it separates slightly.

Tips & Substitutions

• No lactose-free buttermilk on hand? Stir 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar into 1/4 cup of lactose-free milk. Let it sit 5 minutes until it looks curdled, then use as directed.
• Skip the ranch packet. Most supermarket ranch seasoning mixes rely on onion powder and garlic powder, both concentrated fructans that add up fast at packet amounts. Fresh chives plus mustard powder and paprika carry the same savory flavor.
• Green tops of scallions in place of chives. If you can't find chives, the green tops of spring onions are low-FODMAP in generous amounts. Chop finely and use the same quantity; avoid the white bulb, which is high in fructans.
• Use Greek yogurt for a tangier dip. Swap the lactose-free sour cream for plain lactose-free Greek yogurt if you want a thicker, more tangy dressing, good as a dip for vegetables or wings.
• Dried herbs in a pinch. Use 1 teaspoon dried dill and 1 teaspoon dried parsley if you don't have fresh. Dried chives are weaker; double the amount and let the dressing rest for at least an hour.
• Add a pinch of asafoetida bloomed in the garlic-infused oil for a sharper, more allium-forward bite. Check the label for wheat if you're gluten-free. Ranch also works as a dip for chicken tenders.

Why This Works

The ranch packet is the trap. Most supermarket ranch mixes are built on onion and garlic powder, which are concentrated fructans. Fresh chives, dill, parsley, mustard powder, and paprika rebuild the same flavor without them.

Chives and scallion greens over onion powder. Chives and scallion greens test low FODMAP in generous amounts, while the white bulb is high in fructans. Two tablespoons of chopped chives give the same oniony top note.

Lactose-free dairy across the board. Regular buttermilk and sour cream become high in lactose at larger amounts. The lactose-free versions have the lactose broken down, so they are low FODMAP at normal serving sizes.

Mayonnaise is low FODMAP. Standard mayonnaise is eggs, oil, vinegar, and a little sugar or mustard. Check the current label for garlic, onion powder, or high-fructose corn syrup.

Storage

Refrigerate in a sealed jar for up to 5 days. The flavor actually improves after the first few hours as the herbs infuse the base. It will thicken in the fridge; whisk in a tablespoon of lactose-free buttermilk or milk to loosen before serving. Don't freeze; the mayo and dairy base will break on thaw.