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Buttermilk Ranch Dressing with Bibb Lettuce

Source of Recipe

From "Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That?" by Ina Garten


Recipe Introduction

"Instead of making ranch dressing from the package, I much prefer making the real thing — it's easy and has so much flavor from Greek yogurt, buttermilk, scallions, and fresh basil. I serve it simply over good Bibb lettuce but it's also delicious mixed with sliced cabbage for coleslaw. In the summer, I make large batches of this dressing and keep it in the fridge for a quick salad or as a dip for crudités."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 3 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
â—¦ ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
â—¦ 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
â—¦ 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
â—¦ 1 tablespoon good olive oil
â—¦ 2 cloves garlic, chopped
â—¦ 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
â—¦ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
â—¦ 1 cup good mayonnaise
â—¦ ½ cup Greek-style yogurt
â—¦ ½ cup buttermilk, shaken

Salad greens for 6:
â—¦ 3 small Bibb lettuces, cut in half through the core
â—¦ 2 large ripe tomatoes, thickly sliced
â—¦ 1 red onion, sliced



Recipe

Place the scallions, basil, lemon juice, mustard, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Purée for 15 to 20 seconds to make a smooth mixture.

Add the mayonnaise, yogurt, and buttermilk and blend until smooth. Transfer the dressing to a container, cover, and refrigerate for one hour for the flavors to develop.

Arrange the lettuce, tomatoes, and onion artfully on salad plates and drizzle with the dressing. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.


Makes 3 cups dressing