Southwest Ranch Zesty Sauce (Print version)

Bold, creamy sauce combining ranch seasoning and southwest spices for dips, salads, and wraps.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup mayonnaise
02 - 1/2 cup buttermilk, plus more as needed for thinning

→ Flavorings

03 - 2 teaspoons hot sauce
04 - 1 teaspoon ketchup

→ Seasonings

05 - 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix
06 - 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
07 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and buttermilk until smooth and well combined.
02 - Add the hot sauce and ketchup, then whisk again until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the ranch seasoning mix, taco seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until fully incorporated and the sauce achieves a creamy consistency.
04 - Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. For a thinner sauce, add more buttermilk one tablespoon at a time. For a thicker dip, reduce buttermilk to 1/4 cup.
05 - Transfer the sauce to an airtight container or jar. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to fully develop and blend.
06 - Use as a dip for wings, fries, and vegetables, or drizzle over salads and wraps.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you cheated and bought it from somewhere fancy, but you made it in ten minutes with pantry staples.
  • One batch serves a crowd, making it perfect for game days, potlucks, or whenever you need people to stop asking what that amazing sauce is.
  • The balance of creamy, spicy, and savory works on wings, fries, salads, wraps—basically anything that needs a flavor upgrade.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting period—thirty minutes might sound long, but it's the difference between good sauce and 'why does this taste like something from a restaurant' sauce.
  • The buttermilk amount is flexible based on how you want to use it, but start at ½ cup and adjust rather than guessing—you can always add more but you can't take it out.
03 -
  • Whisk aggressively when adding the spices so you don't end up with little pockets of seasoning that taste intensely spicy in one bite and mild in the next.
  • Taste it in the jar using a clean spoon every time, never the serving spoon, because mayo breaks a little differently when it's been double-dipped.
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