This dairy free ranch dressing recipe will have the kids doing a happy dance at the dinner table. The top 8 allergen free, gluten free, and vegan ranch dip is the perfect kid friendly condiment and staple that every family needs to make.
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Why We Like This Recipe
We love this dairy free ranch dressing recipe because our kids will eat vegan ranch dip on EVERYTHING and ANYTHING. They are pretty typical kids with typical tastes and according to them ranch dressing makes any meal go from blah to delicious. This makes me laugh now but when we first identified the allergies we had to figure out what our kids were going to have as their staple condiment.
We tried many store bought dairy free ranch dips and vegan ranch dressings but the kids weren’t as fond as them as their usual ones. In Canada, we also don’t get all the different brands that are offered in the states so we did what we do and decided to make our own. To figure this recipe out, we looked at what was in their favourite dressings and used those ingredients in a basic plant based buttermilk base.
Ingredients
- Vegan Mayo (egg free/ soy free)
- Plant Milk
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dried Dill, dried
- Dried Parsley, dried
- Dried Chives, dried
- garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salt and Pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
The Ingredient Low Down
Vegan Mayo (egg free/ soy free)
We had a really hard time initially to find a ready made vegan mayo that was soy free, egg free, AND mustard free. We did find one in Canada called MamaYo! That is from an allergen friendly brand out of Quebec. Hellman’s in Canada and the United States also makes a great vegan mayo that is safe for us.
Replacing Mayo with Avocado or with homemade may is also an option if there aren’t any vegan mayos near you. Check out our variations and substitutions for more info.
Dairy Free Milk
Usually plant milk is used in place of regular milk in dairy free cooking. This one will need to be nut and soy free so almond and cashew along with soy milk are not safe for anyone on a top 8 free diet.
Some oat milks are safe for some. If using an oat milk be sure it is certified gluten free as it will have less of a chance of being in contact with wheat. Many oat milks have switched to more readily available regular oats which are not always safe for those with a wheat allergy and are not safe for coeliacs.
Coconut from a carton, rice milk, and gluten free oat milk will all work in this recipe and will curdle effectively.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This is generally a safe vinegar for those with top allergens but it may not be suitable for all. If it isn't, another safe vinegar can be used such as a spirit vinegar, or white wine vinegar. We don't recommend red wine vinegar as it will discolour the dairy free ranch dressing and affect the taste.
Bear in mind that some vinegar such as malt and white vinegar may not be safe for all, especially those with coeliac’s disease.
Dried and Powdered Herbs and Spices
Always check with the manufacturer on how the spices and herbs are processed and packaged. More and more spices are manufactured in plants where allergens are present. May contain warnings are not required on packaging in North America and are not regulated.
We are seeing though that more spices, including salt and pepper, are showing may contain statements so we always encourage double checking with the companies making the products.
Instructions/ Directions and Tips
1- In a measuring cup pour in the plant milk. Whisk in the apple cider vinegar and set aside to let the milk sour. This is making a dairy free ‘buttermilk” useful in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.
2- Mix all the ingredients, including the soured plant milk, together with a whisk in a small bowl.
3- Pour into a jar for storing in the fridge using a funnel. Cover the jar.
4- Let the vegan ranch dressing sit for 1 hour in the fridge to let the flavours mingle and let them shine. If the kids are clamouring to eat the dip, it will still be great.
Hint: Let the kids help and make this recipe as it is super easy and doesn’t require any sharp knives or heat.
Substitutions
- Making Your Own Mayo - instead of buying a vegan plant based soy free mayo if they are not readily available near you try making your own. This recipe at The Minimalist Baker using aquafaba (chickpea water) can help.
- Plant Based Milk - Make your own plant based milk from seeds, rice, or oats at home. They need soaking in water, straining and storing. For more information on how to do this check out how to make rice milk to at Dani's Cookings . Make sure to use gluten free oats as they will be less likely to contain wheat.
- Fresh Herbs - the beef hamburger can be replaced with a plant-based burger to make this vegetarian
Variations /Adaptations
- Spicy - Add ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to make a spicy ranch dressing.
- Extra Dilly - double the amount of dill. This is perfect for dill lovers or with a dill pickle pizza or chicken wings as a dip.
- Extra Garlicky - Switch out the dried garlic powder for minced or 1-2 pureed fresh garlic cloves. This will get very garlicky and is perfect for falafels.
- Avocado Based - Switch out the plant based mayo for 1 avocado that is well mashed/pureed. A bit more soured plant milk may be needed to make this dairy free ranch dressing pourable. This is the perfect substitution for more of a vegan ranch dip though. Reduce the amount of plant based milk in the dip form.
Equipment
This dairy free ranch dressing recipe is so easy that all you need are a bowl, a liquid measuring cup, a whisk, and measuring cups and spoons. A jar to store the final allergen friendly dressing in and a funnel to help pour it in the container are also great things to have on hand.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storage
-Fridge
In a sealing jar the egg free ranch dressing will keep for up to 7 days in the fridge. We like to store ours in repurposed coconut amino bottles that have been washed out thoroughly.
-Freezer
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing. We do not recommend freezing vegan ranch dip.
Top Tip
Make the dairy free ranch dip recipe the night before to get the best flavour. Letting the allergen friendly ranch dressing sit will give it a bolder flavour but not an overwhelming one.
What To Serve With
This is the perfect ranch dressing to serve with everything! Our kids eat ranch dressing with a variety of food and would probably drink it if we let them, which we don’t. Just to clarify.
We serve this vegan ranch dressing on salads like a simple garden salad. It is a great dip for fries, chicken fingers, and crispy chicken wings. This dairy free ranch dip is a staple with raw veggies in our family. It is in just about every lunch box we send to school with the cucumber and bell pepper sticks our kids love.
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📖 Recipe
Equipment
- Bowl
- Liquid measuring cup
- Whisk
- Dry measuring cups and spoons
- A jar to store the final dressing in
- Funnel
Ingredients
- 1 C Vegan mayo egg and soy free
- ½ C Plant milk gluten free, soy free, nut free
- 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dill dried
- ½ teaspoon Parsley dried
- ½ teaspoon Chives dried
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste about ⅛-¼ tsp
Instructions
- In a measuring cup pour in the plant milk. Whisk in the apple cider vinegar and set aside to let the milk sour.
- Mix all the ingredients, including the soured plant milk, together with a whisk in a small bowl.
- Pour into a jar for storing in the fridge using a funnel. Cover the jar.
- Let sit for 1 hour in the fridge, for best flavours but can be used immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Contact the manufacturer of products, regarding cross contact and ingredients, to ensure they are safe for you
- Always check ingredients for allergens
- Do not use the same utensils on allergen free food, that previously touched allergens
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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