Ranch Dressing

Credit: David Chang, Dinner Time Live

Ingredients

1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sour cream (I used full fat Greek yogurt)
1/4 cup Kewpie mayo
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Momofuku Savory Seasoned Salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika (I used smoked paprika)
1/2 teaspoon MSG
2 tablespoons minced chives

Directions

Mix everything together and chill until ready to serve.

Notes

So, like, OMG to the absolute max. This dressing is so savory yet refreshing. I have no idea how much of it is due to Momofuku’s salt, but so worth it if that’s the end result. The fresh shallots, garlic, and chives make it, along with the double whammy of Kewpie mayo and MSG.

Blue Cheese Dressing

Credit: Craig Claiborne, New York Times

Ingredients (updated and reduced by half)

1/4 cup Kewpie mayo
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup full fat Greek yogurt
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
0.5 tsp finely minced garlic
2 tbsp cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tbsp white wine vinegar
3 oz crumbled blue cheese
1/4 tsp MSG
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

Mix everything together and chill until ready to serve.

Notes

So the original dressing was a bit thicker than I wanted. I’ve learned Kewpie mayo (which has MSG), full fat Greek yogurt, and buttermilk combine well to make an excellent base for creamy dressings. I increased the blue cheese by 50% to get it to the right consistency and flavor…and of course, added a bit more MSG. I only make half the recipe at a time so I adjusted the amounts accordingly.

Ingredients - original NYT recipe

1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 tsp finely minced garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
4 oz crumbled blue cheese
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Salt, if needed

Directions

Mix everything together and chill until ready to serve.

Notes

So good. The onion, garlic, and parsley make it. A good block of blue cheese is key. The first time I made this I used Best Foods Olive Oil Mayo and Fage full-fat Greek yogurt and it was great.

Caesar Salad Dressing

Credit: Jenn Segal, Once Upon a Chef

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp anchovy paste
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 c Best Foods Olive Oil mayo
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Mix the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, mustard, and Worcestershire together. Add mayo and mix. Add in cheese, salt, and pepper.

Notes

This dressing is just the right balance and so flavorful! It’s quite thick, but dilutes well with the moisture from romaine.

Update

You can replace half the mayonnaise with full-fat greek yogurt for a lighter version that tastes just as great!

Ginger Scallion Sauce

Credit: Chung Sun Lau, Made with Lau

Ingredients

2 oz green onion, white and light green parts
1.5 oz ginger
5 tbsp avocado oil
1 tbsp roasted sesame oil
2 tsp salt

Directions

Finely mince the green onion and ginger. Pour avocado oil into a wok and heat to ~350 degrees. Cook the ginger for 15 seconds, then add the onions and cook another 20 seconds or so. Pour into a heatproof bowl, and add sesame oil and salt.

Notes

This sauce smells unbelievably good, and is so perfect with sous-vide chicken breast, tofu, rice, eggs, anything really! Finely mincing the green onion and ginger takes time, but it’s worth it. The original recipe calls for corn oil, but I use avocado oil as it’s less inflammatory.

Korean Seasoned Soy Sauce (Yangnyeomjang)

Credit: Maangchi

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, minced
1 green onion, chopped
1 tsp Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru)
1 tsp sugar (or honey)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame oil

Directions

Combine everything in a bowl.

Notes

This sauce is especially good over pan-fried or air-fried tofu!

Garlic Yogurt Dip

Credit: adapted from Natasha Kravchuk, Natasha’s Kitchen

Ingredients

1/3 cup 5% Greek yogurt
1 large garlic clove, pressed through a garlic press or finely minced
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

Directions

Combine everything in a bowl and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

Notes

This dip is SO good! It got my son to eat yogurt 😄 The original recipe calls for mayonnaise but the Greek yogurt is fantastic and a fraction of the calories. I could see always having this on hand.