Thinlandia’s Low-Sodium Low-Calorie Guilt-Free Ranch-Style Dressing!

I have begun to think that all decent diet foods are invented out of sheer jealousy. I know that sounds a bit weird, but let me explain.

Beau and the kids were having mashed potatoes with ranch dressing tonight as part of their supper, and I started feeling left out. I wanted some ranch dressing, doggone it, but could not overlook the fact that unfortunately, it is NOT very diet friendly; nor is it low in sodium. In fact, it’s generally chock full of fat, fat, fat, sodium, and more sodium. I knew if I indulged, it would be a huge speed-bump in the road to Thinlandia. There had to be another way. So I thought to myself, (say it with me,) “Self, you need to make some low-sodium, low-calorie, hopefully not low-taste Ranch!”

I went onto www.allrecipes.com, which is my goto site for recipes, and found a good base spice recipe with some nice reviews. I then proceeded to see how I could Thinlandiate it, if you will, by reducing the fat, calories, and sodium. I eventually came up with something that was quite pleasant, and at only 40 calories and 3 fat grams for two tablespoons, as compared to the 148 calories and 15.6 grams of fat in Kraft’s Ranch Dressing, I figured I was doing pretty well. I was pretty successful in reducing the sodium as well; there were only 60 mg per two tablespoons of my new dressing, compared to 287 mg for Kraft’s.

The key to success in making a low sodium food taste decent is to have a reasonable substitute, and I’m not talking Morton’s Lite! There is a fabulous new salt substitute out named Also Salt that has proved immeasurably beneficial in helping me stay on my low-sodium diet, and if you have any thoughts of eating as little sodium as you can, I strongly urge you to get yourself a few bottles, preferably in all three flavors (regular, garlic, and butter).

Thinlandia’s Low-Sodium Low-Calorie
Guilt-Free Ranch-Style Dressing!

1 teaspoon dried parsley
About 10 grinds of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt (I used Lowry’s)
1/4 teaspoon Sodium Free Spike
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dill weed
3/4 teaspoon Garlic Also Salt
1/4 teaspoon Also Salt Original

Mix the herbs and spices well, then add the following:

1/2 cup buttermilk (I used gourmet buttermilk made from whole milk, because that is what Beau always buys)
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt (I think nonfat or lowfat Greek-style yogurt would be fabulous!)
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/4 cup Hellman’s Reduced Fat Mayo with Olive Oil
1 teaspoon (or about the juice of one wedge) lemon juice

Mix well. Use as desired.

Makes about 23-24 tablespoons, or about 1 1/2 cups.

Nutrition information per tablespoon:
Calories: 20.4
Fat: 1.3
Protein: 0.75
Carbohydrate: 1.3
Sodium: 30 mg