HOW TO MAKE RANCH

Summary

In this engaging video, Ben Roberts shares the unconventional secrets of making ranch dressing for pizza, emphasizing the importance of fresh herbs like tarragon, chives, and parsley. He skips tradition by excluding dill and focuses on the meticulous chopping of herbs, mixing them with mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk for a creamy texture. The final touch comes with a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and hot sauce, all while pondering the origins of ranch on pizza, creating a delightful fusion of flavors.

Takeaways

• 🍃 Start with fresh herbs for making ranch dressing, emphasizing the importance of a 'trinity of herbs' similar to French cooking.
• 🌿 Traditionally, dill is used in ranch dressing, but the speaker prefers to omit it and instead uses tarragon.
• 🔪 Chopping herbs is a crucial and time-consuming part of the process, with a focus on aggressive chopping to release flavors.
• 🥄 The speaker recommends using a spatula coated in mayonnaise for mixing, ensuring a thorough blend.
• 🧂 Equal parts of mayonnaise, buttermilk, and sour cream are combined to create the base of the ranch dressing.
• 🧀 Garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper are key spices, with a preference for a noticeable amount of black pepper for visual appeal.
• 🌶️ Hot sauce, such as Tabasco, is added to taste, enhancing the flavor profile of the ranch.
• 🥗 Parsley stems are included in the mix for their flavor and texture, contrary to common practice.
• 🍴 The process involves adding all ingredients and mixing until well incorporated, with a focus on personal taste preferences.
• 🍕 The ranch dressing is primarily made for pizza, though it can also be used for salads, creating a balance of fat and acid.
• 🤔 The speaker ponders the origins of ranch on pizza, expressing curiosity about the first person to combine the two.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video transcript?

The speaker in the video transcript is Ben Roberts, who owns Pizza Spring.

What is the main topic of the 'After Hours' segment in the video?

The main topic of the 'After Hours' segment is teaching the secrets of making ranch dressing.

What are the three herbs traditionally used in French cooking, as mentioned in the transcript?

The three herbs traditionally used in French cooking, known as the 'fines herbes,' are parsley, chives, and tarragon. However, the speaker mentions using dill instead of tarragon in ranch dressing.

Why does Ben Roberts choose to use dill instead of tarragon in his ranch dressing?

Ben Roberts chooses to use dill instead of tarragon because he personally dislikes traditions and presumably prefers the flavor of dill in his ranch dressing.

How does Ben describe the process of picking tarragon in the video?

Ben describes picking tarragon by finding a stem and running his hand along it to get most of the leaves off the stem, creating a thick branch of tarragon.

What is Ben's approach to chopping chives for the ranch dressing?

Ben's approach to chopping chives involves hacking them at the top and bottom to ensure they are small enough to mix well with the other ingredients in the ranch dressing.

Why does Ben leave the stems of parsley in the ranch dressing?

Ben leaves the stems of parsley in the ranch dressing because they are edible, have good flavor, and he likes the texture they add.

How much ranch dressing is Ben planning to make in the video?

Ben is planning to make 12 quarts of ranch dressing in the video.

What are the main ingredients for the ranch dressing according to the video?

The main ingredients for the ranch dressing are mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, and a mix of herbs and spices, including garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and hot sauce.

Why does Ben suggest using a spatula that is already coated in mayonnaise?

Ben suggests using a spatula that is already coated in mayonnaise to prevent it from sticking to the mayonnaise jar and to ensure a smooth mixing process.

How does Ben describe the process of adding buttermilk to the ranch dressing mixture?

Ben describes adding buttermilk by going all around the bowl to prevent the thick mayonnaise from sticking to the bottom and forming a blob, ensuring a uniform mixture.

Why does Ben not add salt to the ranch dressing recipe in the video?

Ben does not add salt to the ranch dressing recipe because it is going to be served with salty pizza, so the balance of flavors is already achieved without additional salt.