Dreamy Ranch Delight: Ina Garten’s Buttermilk Bibb Lettuce Recipe

Creamy, tangy buttermilk ranch dressing by Ina Garten brings a burst of flavor to your salad experience.

Her classic recipe effortlessly combines simple ingredients with professional culinary finesse.

Fresh herbs and rich buttermilk create a luxurious base that elevates any crisp lettuce.

bibb lettuce provides the perfect delicate canvas for this silky smooth dressing.

The balanced blend of herbs and creamy texture makes this ranch dressing a standout addition to your meal.

Summer lunches and casual dinners will never be the same once you whip up this delightful dressing.

Serve it alongside your favorite greens and watch everyone ask for seconds.

Equipment List for Ina Garten Buttermilk Ranch Dressing With Bibb Lettuce

• Food processor: Essential for blending ingredients smoothly and creating creamy dressing.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements for perfect flavor balance.
• Sharp knife: Needed for chopping scallions, basil, and slicing tomatoes and onions.
• Cutting board: Clean surface for chopping ingredients.
• Container with lid: For storing and chilling the dressing.
• Serving platter or individual plates: Arranging the salad beautifully.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 180 kcal

Servings: 6

Ingredients for Ina Garten Buttermilk Ranch Dressing With Bibb Lettuce

• Scallions: Adds a sharp, oniony kick with a fresh green note that brightens the entire dressing.
• Basil: Introduces a sweet, peppery herb flavor that provides a delightful aromatic complexity.
• Lemon Juice: Brings zesty acidity that balances and lifts the entire dressing's flavor profile.
• Mustard: Contributes tangy depth and helps emulsify the dressing for a smooth texture.
• Olive Oil: Creates a silky foundation that helps blend and soften other ingredients.
• Garlic: Offers a pungent, robust flavor that adds depth and traditional ranch character.
• Salt and Pepper: Enhance and season the overall taste of the dressing.

• Mayonnaise: Provides rich, smooth base that gives the dressing its classic creamy consistency.
• Yogurt: Adds tanginess and lighter texture while boosting protein content.
• Buttermilk: Introduces signature tangy flavor and helps create a perfect ranch consistency.

• Bibb Lettuce: Offers delicate, tender leaves with a mild, buttery flavor perfect for showcasing dressing.
• Tomatoes: Brings juicy sweetness and fresh color to complement the creamy dressing.
• Onion: Provides crisp texture and sharp flavor that contrasts with the smooth dressing.
• Mixed Salad Greens: Optional addition for extra variety and nutritional diversity.

How to Prepare Ina Garten Buttermilk Ranch Dressing With Bibb Lettuce

Ranch Dressing Magic

• Fresh Herb Blend Gathering the green goodness of scallions and bright basil, this step creates a flavor explosion in your food processor. Toss in zesty lemon juice, bold mustard, smooth olive oil, aromatic garlic, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Pulse everything together for just a quick moment until the mixture transforms into a vibrant green harmony.
• Creamy Transformation Adding velvety mayonnaise, tangy yogurt, and rich buttermilk turns the herb mixture into a luscious dressing. Blend until silky smooth, creating a sauce that will make taste buds dance. Pop the mixture into the refrigerator for an hour, allowing flavors to mingle and intensify.
• Salad Canvas Carefully arrange tender Bibb lettuce leaves on elegant plates. Scatter colorful tomato slices and delicate onion rings across the greens. If you want extra texture, sprinkle some additional mixed salad greens for a beautiful presentation.
• Final Flourish Generously drizzle the chilled ranch dressing over the waiting salad. Finish with a whisper of salt and pepper, creating a restaurant-worthy dish right in your own kitchen.

Tips for Flavor Enhancing Ina Garten Buttermilk Ranch Dressing With Bibb Lettuce

• Swap fresh herbs like dill or chives for a unique flavor profile that transforms the classic dressing.
• Store dressing in an airtight glass jar for up to 5 days, giving flavors time to develop and intensify in the refrigerator.
• Replace buttermilk and yogurt with coconut yogurt and almond milk for a plant-based version that maintains creamy texture and tangy notes.
• Transform this side salad into a complete meal by adding grilled chicken, crispy bacon bits, hard-boiled eggs, or crumbled feta cheese for extra nutrition and satisfaction.
• For a thicker dressing consistency, strain yogurt overnight using cheesecloth or reduce buttermilk quantity, creating a more luxurious coating for your greens.

Plating Ideas for Ina Garten Buttermilk Ranch Dressing With Bibb Lettuce

• Elevate the Dining Experience: Pair this fresh, zesty ranch dressing with grilled chicken or crispy fish for a complete meal that sings with flavor.
• Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer: Serve the Bibb lettuce as a fun, interactive starter by setting out the dressing in a small bowl and letting guests create their own lettuce wraps.
• Vibrant Side Dish Transformation: Toss leftover dressing with roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots to add a creamy, herbal kick to your veggie medley.
• Weekend Brunch Hack: Use the ranch dressing as a dipping sauce for crispy bacon, breakfast potatoes, or as a spread on toasted sourdough for a next-level brunch experience.

Storage and Prep Notes for Ina Garten Buttermilk Ranch Dressing With Bibb Lettuce

• Store Ranch Dressing Safely: Keep the homemade dressing in an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid, ensuring maximum freshness and preventing flavor contamination.
• Refrigerate Wisely: Store the dressing in the coldest part of the refrigerator, typically the back shelf, where temperature remains most consistent, and consume within 5-7 days for optimal taste and quality.
• Prevent Separation: Give the dressing a quick stir or shake before each use to recombine ingredients that might naturally separate during refrigeration, maintaining its creamy texture and balanced flavor profile.
• Freeze for Future Use: While fresh is best, you can freeze the dressing in small portions using ice cube trays, then transfer frozen cubes to a freezer bag, extending its usability for up to 2 months with minimal flavor loss.

Tangy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing With Bibb Lettuce Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s buttermilk ranch dressing elevates simple bibb lettuce with creamy, herbal notes. Crisp greens draped in tangy homemade dressing offer a refreshing salad experience you’ll savor.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 Bibb lettuces, cut in half through the core
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, thickly sliced
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 3 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
• Salad greens for 6
• 0.5 cups (118 ml) chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2.5 tsps (12.5 g) kosher salt
• 1 tsp (5 g) freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup (236 ml) mayonnaise
• 0.5 cups (118 ml) Greek-style yogurt (such as Fage Total)
• 0.5 cups (118 ml) buttermilk, shaken
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1.5 tbsps (22.5 ml) Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Herb Fusion: In a food processor, blend scallions, basil leaves, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper for 15-20 seconds until a vibrant green mixture forms.
2. Creamy Emulsion: Add mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and buttermilk to the processor, blending until a smooth, silky dressing emerges with a consistent texture.
3. Flavor Development: Refrigerate the dressing for a minimum of 1 hour, allowing ingredients to harmonize and intensify their aromatic profile.
4. Salad Composition: Artfully arrange halved Bibb lettuce leaves on serving plates, interspersing with ripe tomato slices and delicate red onion rings to create a visually appealing base.
5. Optional Enhancement: Incorporate additional mixed salad greens to introduce textural complexity and visual interest to the dish.
6. Final Presentation: Moments before serving, cascade the chilled dressing over the prepared salad, finishing with a delicate sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper to accentuate the flavors.
7. Serving Suggestion: Present immediately to preserve the crisp lettuce and maintain the dressing’s cool, refreshing quality.

Notes

• Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerate the dressing for at least an hour to allow herbs and ingredients to blend deeply, creating a more complex and harmonious taste profile.
• Prep Ingredients Precisely: Finely chop scallions and basil leaves to ensure smooth integration and maximize herb flavor distribution throughout the dressing.
• Serve Immediately: Drizzle dressing just before serving to maintain lettuce crispness and preserve the dressing’s cool, fresh texture.
• Customize Greens Creatively: Mix Bibb lettuce with additional salad greens for enhanced visual appeal and varied texture, making the dish more dynamic and interesting.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 4 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg