Buttermilk Salad Dressing with Fresh Herbs

Bright tangy buttermilk sings when combined with creamy mayo, creme fraiche and fresh herbs like tarragon with its anise undertones, parsley and the mild and sweet alliums like chives and shallots. When gardens are in season, this buttermilk salad dressing is the perfect topping for a simply salad of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.

I created this to dress an heirloom tomato, peach and arugula salad and wanted to introduce something new to the flavor profile. Adding a tablespoon or two of savory white miso added the perfect amount of umami.

Ingredients

• buttermilk
• mayonnaise
• creme fraiche
• champagne or white wine vinegar
• whole grain Dijon mustard
• shallot
• garlic clove
• fresh flat-leaf parsley
• fresh chives
• fresh tarragon
• salt
• pepper
• cayenne pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, creme fraiche, vinegar and mustard.

Whisk in the remaining ingredients. 

Add the shallot, garlic, parsley, chives and tarragon.

Whisk in the salt, pepper and cayenne. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Shake well before serving.

Hint: Streamline preparation by using a pint jar with a lid. Simply add all the ingredients to the jar, cover and shake vigorously until combined.

Substitutions

• Creme Fraiche - use sour cream or Greek yogurt instead
• Fresh Tarragon - instead of tarragon, consider using fresh minced dill or basil. Substitute a half teaspoon dried tarragon for fresh tarragon
• Parsley - replace the parsley with fresh basil instead of parsley
• Thyme and Rosemary - play around with combinations based on what you have on hand or in the garden. There is a place for thyme, rosemary or even fennel here.

Variations

• Miso Buttermilk Dressing - whisk in two tablespoons of white miso for unexpected savory tang and umami
• Lemon Buttermilk Dressing - add a half teaspoon of lemon zest and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• Lime, Avocado and Cilantro Buttermilk Dressing -- whisk in a ½ cup prepared guacamole to the first five ingredients. Add juice from one lime, and replace the parsley and tarragon with 1-½ tablespoons minced cilantro. For heat add a few dashes of hot sauce or add half of a minced seeded jalapeño
• Blue Cheese Buttermilk Dressing - whisk in 3 to 4 tablespoons of crumbed blue cheese

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to five days.

🍽️ Recipe

Buttermilk Salad Dressing with Fresh Herbs

The Savory Tart

Bright buttermilk sings in this tangy salad dressing that combines creamy mayo, creme fraiche and fresh herbs like tarragon with its anise undertones, parsley and the mild and sweet alliums like chives and shallots.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Condiment, Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 1.5 cups

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons cup sour cream or crème fraiche
• 2 tablespoons champagne or white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoon whole grain Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot
• 1 small garlic clove minced
• 1 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoons minced chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon minced tarragon
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

 

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the first five ingredients. Whisk in the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Shake well before serving.

Keyword buttermilk dressing, herb dressing, ranch dressing, salad dressing

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