Everyone Loves Ranch — But What Is It?

Everyone Loves Ranch — But What Is It?

When it comes to all-American foods to which people are hopelessly devoted, ranch dressing is usually near the top of the list. There's a good reason the ranch dressing industry reached a $1 billion value. And it's probably no accident that 40% of people who took a 2017 survey by the Association for Dressings and Sauces picked ranch as their favorite condiment (via Money). Some folks love the stuff so much, they've invested in ranch fountains at their weddings. It has become so widespread that several innovations might cause even the most devout ranch enthusiasts to scratch their heads — soda, ice cream, breath mints, and dental floss.

Ranch's herbaceous, punchy flavor and smooth, viscous character add an entirely new dimension to any dish it touches, no matter how unorthodox. The beloved ivory-hued food-topper is a medley of elements that, when combined, form a true icon. And as it turns out, it doesn't take much magic to create a batch. A traditional ranch dressing recipe features a handful of simple ingredients, including buttermilk, mayonnaise, salt, vinegar, fragrant green herbs such as dill and parsley, piquant spices such as pepper and paprika, and the allium all-stars garlic, chives, and onion. These ingredients come together to form a stable, creamy emulsion, thanks to the use of mayo. And its origin story is as humble as it gets.