This Charred Scallion Ranch Dressing recipe features the bright flavor of scallions with a hint of char for a unique twist on classic ranch! This savory, herby dressing is perfect on salad or as a dip for crudités and veggies. Try it drizzled over a hot honey pizza, or as the dressing for a pasta salad!
I’m always looking for new meal inspiration, whether it’s from a gorgeous photo of a dish I see on Pinterest, or a description of a menu item I read online. For this recipe, I was inspired after seeing @kristenfaith_eats post that featured a Scallion Dill Ranch. Funnily enough, I didn’t even see the video – it was just the preview photo that inspired me!! (I’m often inspired by other bloggers but I would never copy someone’s recipe and pass it off as my own. So I chose not to look at Kristen’s recipe, and instead let the phrase “scallion ranch” inspire me.)
With warmer weather ahead of us, I’ve been thinking of ways to incorporate grilling into my recipes. The idea just popped into my head to char my scallions on the grill, and I ran with it. And it turns out that charred scallions are SO GOOD in a dressing. The savory, aromatic flavor of scallions lends itself perfectly to the smoky char flavor. You blend them in a blender or food processor with the rest of the ranch ingredients, and voilà! You have the tastiest ranch ever!! I know y’all are going to love it, enjoy!
For more bright, green, herby recipes, try my Kale Pesto recipe, this Radicchio Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, or this Pesto Lasagna Soup!
Charred Scallion Ranch
Ingredients
- 4 Scallions for charring
- 1 Scallion kept raw
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 Cup Mayo
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Juice from 1/2 Lemon freshly squeezed
- 1/2 Tsp Salt or more, to taste
- 1 Tsp Dried Chives
- 1/2 Tsp Dried Dill
- 1/2 Tsp Dried Parsley
- 1/4 Tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
Instructions
- To begin, preheat your grill or grill pan. Once the grill is very hot, add on 4 of your scallions and cook until char marks appear. Flip them over, then char the other side. If desired, put a clean cast iron pan on top of the scallions to press them into the grill and speed up the cooking process.
- Once the scallions are done, let them cool a little.
- Cut off the ends of the charred scallions, and cut off the bottom of the white end on the remaining raw scallion. Then, give them a rough chop.
- Add the chopped raw and charred scallions to a food processor or blender along with the rest of the ingredients. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Taste, and adjust seasonings to your liking.
- Enjoy!
Charred Scallion Ranch Dressing FAQs
Are scallions the same as green onions?
In recipes, scallions and green onions generally refer to the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably to refer to young onions that haven’t yet formed a large bulb. They have long, slender green leaves and a small white base. However, there can be a very subtle technical difference in some cases. For example, scallions are often varieties of onions that don’t form bulbs, or are harvested very young before a bulb has a chance to develop. Whereas green onions can sometimes refer to the young shoots of regular bulb-forming onions that have been harvested early.
What is ranch dressing made of? What are the ranch dressing ingredients?
Ranch dressing is typically made with a creamy base, such as buttermilk and mayonnaise. (Here we use sour cream and mayo instead!) This provides the signature rich and tangy foundation of the dressing. To this base, you add a classic blend of dried herbs and aromatics, usually dill, parsley, chives, onion powder, and garlic powder. In this Scallion Ranch recipe, I use fresh scallions AND charred scallions to amplify the onion-y flavor of ranch.
Can you make ranch dressing without buttermilk?
Absolutely! For this recipe, I use tangy sour cream, creamy mayo, and freshly-squeezed lemon juice instead of buttermilk. I like this combination because you’re less likely to end up with a watery ranch. This Scallion Ranch holds up very well as a dip for veggies as well!
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
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