Ranch Nation

[elleng]

How one creamy, peppery salad dressing became America’s favorite flavor.

'As a young republic, our nation embraced the dressings of many lands: Italian, French, Russian and the magical Thousand Islands. But with the creation — and inexorable rise — of ranch, we have forged the one true American dressing.

Invented in the 1950s, ranch is now far and away the most popular salad dressing in the country, according to a 2017 study by the Association for Dressings and Sauces, an industry group. (Forty percent of Americans named ranch as their favorite dressing; its nearest competitor, Italian, came in at 10 percent.) And it has spread far beyond salad.

It is a routine dip for chicken wings, baby carrots, French fries, tortilla chips and mozzarella sticks. It is incorporated into American classics like macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, potato salad and Thanksgiving-turkey stuffing. And it is drizzled over tacos, Tater Tots, casseroles and — perhaps most controversially — pizza.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/dining/ranch-dressing-history.html?

Classic Ranch Dressing
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019546-classic-ranch-dressing

Ranch Dressing with Fresh Herbs
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019547-ranch-dressing-with-fresh-herbs

[rsdsharp]

1. I realize that I may well be a minority of one,

but I despise ranch dressing.

[japple]

2. Me, too. I can't eat any salad dressing that isn't clear. It can't have

milky, mayonaisey, or anything creamy. Just my preference. IMHO olive oil, lemon juice (the real stuff), salt and pepper are the best. Maybe just a tsp. of dijon mustard.

[rsdsharp]

7. I like vinaigrettes

but I also like blue cheese, thousand island, caesar, and will even tolerate french. But buttermilk and garlic do not belong together, at least not on my palate.

[Cairycat]

4. Judging by the article's comments,

ranch haters are legion. That's okay, it leaves more for us born-and-bred Midwesterners who love it.

[japple]

5. I must admit that it is a good way to get children to eat raw veggies.

[rsdsharp]

6. Lived in Iowa all of my 64 years.

Can't get more born-and-bred Midwestern than that, and I still hate the stuff.

[The Polack MSgt]

8. Same here.

I just can't see using it pn a salad let alone pouring it on everything.

Gross.

[dem in texas]

3. First Time I tasted Ranch Dressing

In 1964, we were driving through ranch country, it was either Wyoming or Montana. We wanted to stop for lunch and as we drove down the main street of a small town, all the cars were parked by a little café. So we decided that would be a good place to eat. They served ranch dressing on my salad, I'd never tasted a dressing like it.

For years after that, I made ranch dressing from scratch, using salad dressing, buttermilk or sour cream, garlic powder, pinch of dry mustard, salt and pepper. I buy it in the bottle now.

But please - Salad only and never ranch dressing with my pizza!