[Apologies–there is another Ranch thread from 2018, but it didn’t go far.]
What is it to you? Trite? Gift of the gods? Nekulturny? Patriotic? A dirty little secret?
In my 6+ decades of eating, Ranch has mostly been a nonentity. Never had it on salads for much of that time, and later, when I did, frankly I didn’t care for it much. And I admit I may have been a little snobbish against it.
However, several months ago, I was offered a dressing choice called “triple pepper ranch”, tried it, and LOVED it for dipping. Then, more recently, an adjacent table at a really good pizzaria was dunking slices in Ranch. We tried that our next visit and many since.
Tonight I was out of sour cream for a chili bowl, and wow, a blurp of Ranch worked fabulously.
So what’s your view of Ranch? Spawn of Satan? Irredeemable culinary disqualifier? Something you sneak? To what best use do you put Ranch?
We didn’t have it in the house when I was growing up. I have a container of the powdered Hidden Valley Ranch one. You can make the dressing from it with buttermilk/mayo/sour cream or you can dust it on things (ex. fried chicken, tater tots). As a once in a while thing, that’s fun. And, we all need as much fun as we can, right?
It has probably flown under my radar- didn’t exist growing up, and then I missed all the stuff that was supposed to be dunked into it. I’m open to suggestions … but I don’t have any in the pantry currently. I’m an outlier, I know.
I like it a lot. It is always in my fridge. I use the Hidden Valley powder packet. Buttermilk and mayo. I only use it as a salad dressing or sometimes a dip for veg. I’ve added various things to it like chipotle peppers or Tajin for a Latin twist, ketchup and horseradish for a Louie dressing. I think I will try peppercorns, that sound good.
