Creamy Lime-Cilantro Ranch Dressing

By AzWench

This is my knock-off version of a Costa Vida/Cafe Rio style dressing. I’m always getting asked for this recipe, so I finally wrote down what I do! There’s millions of recipes out there for this type of thing and a lot of the good ones call for fresh tomatillos. However after experimenting quite a bit I decided I didn’t like the fresh tomatillos, in this instance. For one thing it’s not something I have laying around my kitchen on a regular basis so I have to plan in advance to buy them. Then I didn’t like the weird, watery texture they added to the dressing. So I started using a much easier substitution: Green salsa. Green salsa is made primarily from tomatillos and other things like jalapenos, limes, etc. And it’s different than “green sauce” like Pace for example. Make sure to check the ingredient list and see that tomatillos are listed as the top ingredient. See my note below about the different brands. This is stuff I always have around so I can whip it up any time the craving comes along. And it comes along often! I love love love this lime cilantro dressing. I totally dip my finger in it when it sits around in my fridge. But don’t worry- if I ever invite you over for dinner I’ll make a fresh batch. I promise.

Ingredients

• 1 pack (1oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix (ignore directions on packet)
• 1 C mayo
• 1/2 C buttermilk (or milk works, too)
• 1 lime
• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1/2 C roughly chopped cilantro
• 1/4 C green salsa*
• hot sauce

Details

Adapted from ourbestbites.com

Preparation

Step 1

Place milk, mayo, and ranch mix in a blender. Juice the lime in there too, you should get about 2T juice.

Toss in the garlic, cilantro and green salsa. Blend 'er up.

Sample it and add hot sauce to taste.

Make it several hours ahead of time to allow it to thicken.

*A note about green salsa
If you're not used to buying green salsa, make sure to sample it first before you put it in the dressing so you know what you're getting into! La Victoria (pictured) is completely mild, whereas Herdez is much more spicy. I prefer La Victoria, as I get all of the flavor of the tomatillos but I control the level of heat with the hot sauce.