America's favorite salad dressing has an exquisite taste and goes with various dishes. This creamy delicacy is arguably the best condiment with wings and the best with buffalo wings.
You can have ranch dressing with any vegetable, and you will love the mouth-watering combo. Ranch dressing will go perfectly with it if you eat a salad, chicken, or gluten-free pizza.
But is ranch dressing contaminated with gluten? If yes, are there any brands that sell gluten-free ranch dressing? Can you make a batch of gluten-free ranch dressing at your home?
I will be sharing all of this information in this article to have all your questions answered.
What is ranch dressing?
When we talk about ranch dressing, three main things make this salad dressing what it is.
The first characteristic feature of ranch dressing is its creaminess. For that purpose, chefs and cooks use buttermilk or sour cream.
Next comes herbaceousness. You can add any herb that you prefer. But typically, a ranch dressing consists of parsley, chives, thyme, and dill.
The final element is a long pull of allium. Get some onion and garlic to finish the preparation.
Once you get a combination of these three, mix it into a sauce based mostly on mayonnaise.
These are the essential ingredients used to make ranch dressing. Many brands add a shot of black paper, while others use ground mustard seed and paprika to enhance the taste. Some chefs use any other oil-based emulsion as a substitute for mayonnaise. Others use sour cream and onion to increase the creaminess.
Usually, ranch dressing has a tangy and sweet taste with creaminess in each bite. But the flavor can change since each brand makes a unique characteristic change to the basic recipe.
Fun facts about ranch dressing
Ranch dressing is not only a yummy and delicious condiment, but it's also a fun one. Here are several fun facts about ranch dressing:
The origin of ranch dressing:
Ranch dressing has an exciting history. A contract plumber in Alaska, Steve Henson, used to make buttermilk for himself and his coworkers. After a while, Steve and his wife started altering their recipe.
While doing so, they made the first-ever ranch dressing batch by adding mayo and herbs to the recipe. It was a total success, and when they moved to California, their ranch dressing gained even more fame. In 1972, they sold the recipe to Clorox for a whopping 8 million dollars.
Ranch dressing is worth its weight in gold:
It works best with dishes like vegetables and chicken. But Jay Jerrier thinks ranch dressing can also, and should also, be added to pizzas. When he opened Cane Rosso Deep Ellum Pizza, his friend gifted him a bottle of ranch dressing.
Jerrier put the bottle on a shelf with the tag “Side of Delicious Ranch Dressing $1,000.00.” The money was then donated to an animal rescue center. Recently, the thousand-dollar ranch bottle was purchased by Josh Tipton.
Ranch soda:
People are trying different dishes with ranch dressings. Many have concocted recipes to make tasty ranch-flavored potato chips and taco shells. Many even make a decent amount of money by selling ranch-flavored sunflower seeds.
But those at Lester's Fixins Soda have even outdone themselves. The brand has recently started its ranch dressing soda. However, there aren't too many who are fans of their soda.
Twisted RAnCh's deep love for ranch dressing:
People in St. Louis, MO, have immense love for ranch dressing, and twisted RAnCh is the living proof of that. The chefs at the restaurant use ranch dressing as a vital component of every dish.
Even the desserts are served with the condiment. The combination of bread pudding with the House Ranch is a fan favorite. Moreover, you can order an extra ranch dressing and choose from any of the 23 unique homemade recipes.
The white of ranch dressing:
Have you ever wondered why the color of ranch dressing is white? Well, Kelly Jones has our answer for it. According to her, ranch dressing contains a compound called titanium dioxide.
This titanium dioxide is responsible for the characteristic white color of the dressing. However, a scary fact is that the same combination is also used in body care items. So, your sunscreen and face lotion is more similar to ranch dressing than you probably thought.
Is there dairy in ranch dressing?
Have you ever felt diarrhea, bloating, stomach aches, and nausea after eating dairy products? Well, you actually may be lactose intolerant.
The term lactose intolerance is pretty self-explanatory. Someone who is lactose intolerant cannot tolerate any dairy products. For this purpose, doctors and healthcare workers suggest a dairy-free diet to avoid the symptoms.
When we talked about the ingredients used to make ranch dressing, we mentioned buttermilk, sour cream, and yogurt. Well, this is where our next question comes in. Is there dairy in ranch dressing? Can lactose intolerant patients enjoy ranch dressing on their veggies or chicken? Or should they avoid it?
Buttermilk is obtained by fermenting cow's milk. Similarly, sour cream is another fermented dairy product. The bacterial fermentation of milk produces yogurt. So, all these three are fermented dairy products. Hence, most traditional ranch products are not dairy-free.
Please note that that does not mean you can't have ranch dressing if you're following a strict dairy-free diet. Several brands such as Tessemae's, Daiya, Organicville, Sir Kensington's, and Primal Kitchen make dairy-free ranch dressing. Hidden Valley's Original Ranch is another dairy-free option.
Or, you can always make some ranch dressing yourself and avoid using the dairy ingredients. Try full-fat coconut milk and vegan mayonnaise instead of buttermilk and regular mayonnaise. Try full-fat coconut milk and vegan mayonnaise.
Why is gluten harmful?
You might've read about gluten in many of our articles. But many of you might be reading the word “gluten” for the first time. Well, gluten is a protein usually found in wheat, barley, and rye. Proteins are an excellent nutrient and a great energy source and benefit the body numerous ways.
Unfortunately, that's not always the case. When a person eats gluten, their immune system confuses the gluten particles with a harmful disease-causing agent. Your body produces antibodies that target and destroy the small intestine.
As a result, the patient suffers from several symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, and constipation. Some patients even experience dark circles under their eyes, anemia, and some skin diseases. This disease is called celiac disease.
So, if you're a celiac patient, gluten can do more harm than good. For this reason, you need to maintain a safe distance from gluten and evaluate your dietary intake. Make sure that nothing you eat contains gluten.
Does ranch dressing contain gluten?
We know all about ranch dressing and the primary sources of gluten. So, it's time that we address the main question. Does ranch dressing contain gluten? Well, let's take a quick recap.
Ranch dressing is usually made from vinegar, xanthan gum, natural or artificial flavors, and preservatives. Many brands add wheat flour, soy sauce, malt flavoring, edible starch, modified food starch, and hydrolyzed wheat protein.
Similarly, some companies prefer to add monosodium glutamate, filler, or maltodextrin. And we also know that gluten is mainly found in wheat, barley, and rye. All of the ingredients mentioned above either come directly from these sources or their byproduct. So, it won't be wrong to say that ranch dressing is usually made from gluten ingredients.
If you have somehow missed the ingredients list, there is another way to spot the gluten in your ranch dressing. Or if a brand has added malt vinegar, soy sauce, or mustard, you can instantly recognize them because of their flavor. If your ranch dressing is creamy or buttery, the brand might've included a gluten-containing thickening agent.
Moreover, there's always the risk of cross-contamination. This might come as a shocker if you're new to this term. But even if there are no gluten-containing ingredients, a food item can still be contaminated with gluten.
If you store a gluten-free dish in the same facility containing contaminated products, the former will also contain gluten. Even if a gluten-free item is prepared using the utensils previously used on a gluten-containing item, it will become contaminated. This phenomenon is called cross-contamination.
But that doesn't mean it's the end of the world for a celiac ranch dressing lover. Numerous brands make gluten-free ranch dressing while also nullifying the prospect of cross-contamination. These brands are discussed in detail in the subsequent section.
Another remedy is to make gluten-free ranch dressing at home. Swap out the gluten-containing ingredients with gluten-free ones or look for a recipe online.
Gluten-free ranch dressing brands
Let's discuss the first option that a celiac patient can go for if they wish to eat ranch dressing. You can never be sure whether the ranch dressing you just picked from the condiments aisle contains gluten or not unless you buy from a brand that makes certified gluten-free products. We have compiled a list of certified gluten-free brands that sell top-quality ranch dressing to make your life easier.
Hidden Valley:
You might have to find a hidden valley if you're looking for a place that doesn't sing this brand's praises. You might be worried when you find out that several Hidden Valley products contain gluten.
But the brand has extreme regard for its celiac customers and makes gluten-free products with an equally fantastic taste. Try their Original Ranch Seasoning, and you'll be licking your fingers.
Tessemae's:
Celiac patients fear that gluten-free products might not taste as good as the original items. Well, that's not the case with Tessemae's. The brand not only makes gluten-free ranch dressing, but their products are dairy-free as well.
And to top it all, their ranch dressing tastes as good as the real thing, if not more. You might be interested in their Organic Creamy Ranch since it is both keto-friendly and low-carb.
La Tourangelle:
La Tourangelle has a stream of positive reviews coming down its way. And why wouldn't they be coming, considering the delicious ranch dressing that the brand makes? Want your kids to start loving salad? La Tourangelle is what you're in search of.
The fan-favorite Organic Creamy Ranch is a must-try. It is low-carb, soy-free, and gluten-free. And to top it all, it's so yummy and delicious that you'll regret not trying it earlier.
Daiya:
Several brands produce and sell gluten-free ranch dressing. Daiya is one of the few brands that have taken things up a notch. Some of their products are allergy-friendly all around.
They don't contain gluten, dairy, nuts, peanuts, soy, shellfish, or other fish ingredients. You can even enjoy their products without hesitation if you're a vegetarian or vegan. The company's Homestyle Ranch will satisfy and fulfill all your cravings.
Primal Kitchen:
If you're on the hunt for gluten-free ranch dressing brands, look no further than Primal Kitchen. The company's ranch dressing is a fan favorite. Usually, ranch dressing recipes involve buttermilk.
Primal Kitchen has made a variation in this case and instead uses almond oil. You can substitute this dairy, soy, and gluten-free ranch dressing with your usual one, especially in salads and veggie platters.
Foods Alive:
Foods Alive is a perfect choice for people searching for something different from the traditional ranch dressing. The brand's vegan ranch is low-carb, gluten-free, and soy-free.
Final Thoughts
Ranch dressing is a popular condiment used with a variety of dishes. This salad dressing usually contains gluten, made with buttermilk, herbs, onion, and garlic. But several brands make gluten-free ranch dressing, so celiac ranch lovers don't have to miss out. Make sure you eat certified gluten-free ranch dressing or make it yourself to avoid any complications.
Please note that most dressings contain ingredients that are harmful to your digestive system. When choosing a dressing, it is always best to pick the ones with fewer ingredients, or that you know what the ingredients are when reading them.
Stay healthy!
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She is passionate about helping others understand their body.
The key to figuring out why you feel the way you feel is to take a more significant look at what is going on inside you & even around you, and then ask questions!
She is excited to help & support you on your journey of optimal health and wellness!
