We eat salad greens topped with chicken salad quite often for lunches. It is an easy lunch, so I can add whatever I want to it. Usually, I mix canned chicken with Greek yogurt and use that as the “salad dressing” for the greens. I decided the yogurt needed more flavor, and this easy, dry mix quickly pulled together. Just enough to remind you of ranch dressing without the negatives. While one can buy ranch dressing mix at most stores, the ingredients are not your friend.
Hidden Valley dry mix:
Maltodextrin, buttermilk, salt, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, dried garlic, dried onion, spices, citric acid, less than 1% of: calcium stearate, artificial flavor, xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, natural flavor (milk, soy)
You can skip the maltodextrin, MSG, lactic acid, citric acid, calcium stearate, artificial flavor, xantham gum, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, and natural flavor (milk, soy). You don’t need the dried buttermilk (which is fine) because you don’t need it if using Greek yogurt. The fewer ingredients you use that are heavily processed, so much the better. For you, your GO tract, and your health.
Pulling the herbs together.
Ranch Seasoning Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried chives
- 1 tsp dried dill weed
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp granulated onion
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
Directions:
Mix the dry ingredients, add to a blender, and process until finely powdered.
Store in a sealed jar, such as a 4-ounce mason jar.
Makes 3 portions of about 1½ tsp each.
Powdered seasoning mix.
Ranch Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
- 1½ tsp dry ranch seasoning mix
- 12-ounce can of chicken breast, drained
- ½ cup Greek yogurt*
Directions:
Break the chicken up with a fork, then mix the seasoning and Greek yogurt in. Cover and chill for an hour for the best taste.
Use up within 2 days.
Serves 2.
*When buying Greek yogurt, read the ingredient list. It should only contain dairy and live cultures. Avoid those with pectin, gelatin, or gums added.
~Sarah