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I was never a big fan of Ranch dressing. I never disliked it, but I never liked it enough to order it in restaurants or use the bottled stuff at home when I preferred honey mustard or balsamic vinaigrette. Now my sister – she was one of those kids where you wanted to say, “Have a little salad with your plate of Ranch dressing,” or “How about some carrots to dip in your bowl of Ranch dressing?” I think a lot of kids are like that. In fact, doesn’t Hidden Valley have an entire ad campaign about getting kids to eat their veggies by smothering it in Ranch dressing?
Well, I have been seeing some recipes for homemade Ranch dressing. I am kind of on a kick with making homemade dressing, instead of the bottled stuff. While I had been sticking mainly with vinaigrettes, I did finally venture into the creamier world with Blue Cheese dressing. So I thought it was time to tackle ranch, and see if homemade would change my mind. Especially when I saw the Avocado Ranch Salad Dressing from Ann at Sumptuous Spoonfuls. It sounded so yummy!! I love avocados. I was planning on making a flank steak on the grill one night, and my grocery store pretty much always seems to have only 2 pound flank steaks – too much for one meal for my little family. So I knew I would have some leftovers, which I thought would be perfect sliced thinly over a salad with this Avocado Ranch.
I made a couple of tweaks to Ann’s dressing recipe. I had some buttermilk for another recipe, and was looking for a way to use it up, so I replaced the Greek yogurt and milk from her recipe with the buttermilk, to give it that tangy creaminess. And I am not a big mayo fan, so I took that out and just added more avocado. Oh, and I also just added a few more chives in place of the green onions – every time I buy green onions, I throw half of them out because I don’t use them in many things, so I was being cheap and just bought chives.
This dressing was so creamy and flavorful with all of the herbs and seasonings. A perfect match for the grilled steak. And I added some mangoes and tomatoes to the salad because we love Mango Avocado Salsa, and I thought they would be perfect for color and a nice contrast in flavors and textures – the freshness and sweetness versus the richness and savoriness (is the a word?!) of the steak and dressing.
This salad was delicious, and I am sure I will be making it again anytime we have leftover steak. Or chicken. Or shrimp. Or maybe even some grilled veggies. I am sure it will be good with all of the above. And maybe my sister will eat some carrots and salad with a bowl of this Ranch dressing 
Oh, and by the way, I made a pretty good marinade for this steak. Check it out.
What is your favorite dip for veggies?
- Salad greens of choice
- Leftover steak, sliced thinly (I used leftovers of Sundried Tomato, Rosemary, and Balsamic Marinated Flank Steak)
- Half or whole mango, sliced thinly
- 1-2 plum tomatoes, sliced
- Avocado Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (see below)
- Divide salad greens between plates.
- Top with mango, tomato, and steak slices.
- Drizzle Avocado Buttermilk Ranch Dressing over the top.
Click HERE for the Avocado Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
Enjoy!
This recipe was shared with:
Newlyweds Recipe Linky 4/25/12
Countertop Confections’ What’s Cookin Thursday’s
Hear the Bell’s Taste This Thursday #13
The Real Housewives of Riverton Recipe Round Up # 14
A Little Nosh’s Tastetastic Thursday 4/26
Amee’s Savory Dish’s Fit and Fabulous Fridays #29
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Enjoy!
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this salad! The steak looks just perfectly done and the tomato and mango slices underneath make such a beautiful bed for it. Drizzled with the beautiful green dressing … oh my. I need someone to make me a good steak now.
I loved this one SO much, I had to pin it to the BEST food blogger recipes Pinterest board: http://pinterest.com/bachelorsgrill/best-food-blogger-recipes/
Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls recently posted…A Chef Salad in Stripes
Aww, Ann, I am honored. Thank you so much! My hubby loves to grill and loves steak, so I can get him to grill me a steak anytime
This looks outrageously delicious! Love what Ann made and love how you modified it! All the ingredients are on my list of favorites: )
Ann Fulton recently posted…Pasta with Fava Beans, Greens & Pancetta
Thanks Ann! I had a great recipe to start from, and just built on it.
WOW, I love everything about this. I love to make my own ranch (just finished dipping some veggies in this week’s version actually) and I love leftover steak on top of salad (kinda wishing I had picked up some steak at the market this week just to be able to make a yummy steak salad – guess there is always next week). Thanks for a beautifully summer salad
Rachel (teacher-chef) recently posted…Roasted Vegetable Tart
Thank you! Steak salads are so good – healthy but satisfying.
Looks delicious and beautiful pics! Found you on 33 shades of green!
Amber
Amber @ Recipes We Love recently posted…One Lucky Follower Will Get Lunch on Us…Well, Sort of
Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much for linking up to Foodie Friday! Loved this recipe! Congrats, you’re featured! http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/2012/04/top-5-from-427.html
That is so exciting. Thank you!!
I definitely need to try this dressing. I’m on a dressing kick as well. I think it’s the fear of swim suit season being right around the corner. Lol. Thanks so much for sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays.
Jenny recently posted…35th Anniversary Cupcakes
It was very good and very satisfying, without needing to eat a lot of it.
What a beautiful presentation for this outstanding salad. We would just love this Salad. Your recipe looks awesome. Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen recently posted…Whats For Dinner Next Week 4-29-12
Thank you, so happy to share. It was a really delicious combination.
This looks unbelievable – we’re drooling!
We’d love to see this at our Beautify it Monday link party open now!
-Four Sisters
Bringingbeauty.blogspot.com
Thank you. I will drop it off in a bit!
This salad looks amazing….especially with that yummy steak! Thanks for coming to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” We hope you’ll be back soon! -The Sisters
Thanks for stopping by. I’ll definitely be back.