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Home » Recipes » Sauces » Creamy Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing

Creamy Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing

Posted June 23, 2014, Updated March 1, 2021 //  by Michele Peterson 28 Comments

We may earn income from links in this post. Please read this Disclosure for details.

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Looking for a delicious Avocado Lime Ranch dressing? This creamy avocado salad dressing is delicious over green salads, tacos, grilled vegetables, grains or as a dip for crackers.

Reasons We Love This  Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing 

  • There’s no cilantro in this dressing! For some people, a genetic quirk means cilantro tastes like soap! They’ll be grateful there’s no cilantro in this recipe. 
  • This dressing is fresher and more flavourful than bottled varieties.  
  • The ingredients can be changed up a bit to match your personal tastes.
  • It’s so versatile you can enjoy it on salads, tacos, grilled vegetables or as a dip for tortillas and crackers.

How to Choose Avocados for Salad Dressing

During my market visits around Guatemala, I’m always amazed at the leathery skin of the large avocados and how light they feel. This is what you should look for when choosing the best avocado for your avocado salad dressing.

If it has a tough skin or cascara on the outside, it will be soft in the inside.  A ripe avocado should yield to firm, gentle pressure, but shouldn’t collapse or feel overly soft or mushy.

At many markets in Guatemala, Mexico and other countries around the world, market vendors don’t want you touching their fruit or vegetables.

So how can you tell if an avocado is ripe if you can’t touch it? If the stem has fallen off and the skin is not wrinkled, blemished or dented, then it’s likely at perfect ripeness.

Cut avocados in a bin in the Mercado Central in Guatemala City.
Avocados in Mercado Central in Guatemala City

In Latin America, it’s also possible to ask the vendor to choose you an avocado for today, tomorrow or a few days in the future.

You can then take your avocado home, ripen it on the counter or in a brown paper bag ( never in the fridge) and within a few days it will be ready to use in your avocado salad dressing. This method of ripening avocados also works for California avocados.

If you have a bounty of avocados, you can also use them to whip up a batch of Easy Guatemalan Guacamole.

How to Store Avocados

If you don’t use up all of an avocado for your avocado salad dressing, be sure to store it in the refrigerator. Once it’s cut open it will turn black if not protected. The key to preventing an avocado from turning black is to store it with the seed inside. Cover the inside flesh to prevent air from discolouring the avocado and making it look unappetizing.

I love to use the Evriholder Avo Saver Avocado Holder, 2 pack because not only does the holder have a strap for holding the avocado in place but there’s a nice indentation for placing the seed into as well.

Tips on Making Creamy Avocado Salad Dressing

  • When it comes to storing your avocado salad dressing, avoid using metal salad dressing containers as they will cause a reaction and discolour your dressing. Opt instead for a plastic or glass container. I’ve listed a few of my favourites below.
  • If you’re interested in a lower calorie version you can opt to use the lower fat Light Hellman’s Mayonnaise. You won’t notice a difference in taste or texture.
  • You can also increase the amount of plain yogurt and substitute for the buttermilk adding water by the tablespoon if the dressing is too thick.

Other Easy Guatemalan Recipes You Might Enjoy 

  • Tapado Seafood Soup Recipe from Livingston Guatemala  
  • How to Make Perfect Guatemalan Guacamole
Creamy avocado salad dressing with A Taste for Travel
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5 from 4 votes

Creamy Avocado Salad Dressing

This delectable salad dressing tastes like guacamole and makes a luscious topping for a simple summer salad of Boston lettuce or over sliced grilled chicken. Enjoy it over salads, tacos, vegetables or as a dip for crackers,
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: salad dressing
Cuisine: Guatemalan, Mexican
Keyword: creamy avocado salad dressing, easy lunch recipe, homemade salad dressing
Servings: 32 Tablespoons
Calories: 21kcal
Author: Michele Peterson
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • blender

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 1 small onion white and chopped finely
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup Hellman's light mayonnaise
  • 1 clove garlic chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 salt and pepper taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
US Customary - Metric
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Instructions

  • In a food processor or blender, puree the avocado, onion, mayonnaise, garlic (chopped), yogurt and buttermilk until smooth.
  • Add the vinegar, olive oil, oregano, fresh lime juice and salt and pepper and blend until incorporated.
  • Chill and store covered in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

  • This dressing will stay fresh in the refrigerator for three days. 
Nutritional information is created by online calculators so the figures are only estimates.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tbsp | Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 36mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @ATasteForTravel or tag #ATasteForTravel!

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Category: Guatemalan Recipes, Sauces

About Michele Peterson

Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.

Previous Post: «temazcal in Oaxaca City Mexico Experiencing a Temazcal Ceremony in Oaxaca City
Next Post: Horseback Riding to Atotonilco Hot Springs, Puerto Escondido Forging the Manialtepec River by horseback near Puerto Escondido»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda ~ Journey Jottings

    June 23, 2014 at 8:39 am

    We’re blessed with avocados growing on the trees around us here on the east coast of Australia so I’m always grateful for new avocado recipes!
    Another one I tried recently was avocado/cacoa mousse which seemed like an odd combination for a dessert, but which was delicious!! 🙂

    Reply
  2. santafetraveler

    June 23, 2014 at 10:02 am

    Santiago Atitlán looks like a beautiful place. I love avocados and my mouth watered looking at that big bag. Bet is was really reasonably priced, too. We used to make avocado dressing when we lived in Florida and they were always around and perfectly ripe. Brought back memories.

    Reply
  3. Irene S. Levine

    June 23, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Looks like such an unspoiled place that you visited. The dressing looks delectable!

    Reply
  4. Corinne

    June 23, 2014 at 11:04 am

    I will definitely have to try this dressing. It looks yummy. I need to go to Guatemala still.

    Reply
  5. Nancy D. Brown

    June 23, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    I love the picture of the women washing their laundry in the lake and no one wanting to use the modern structure.

    Clicked over here for your avocado dressing recipe. Sounds delicious.

    Reply
  6. Colleen Friesen

    June 23, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    What a beautiful post Michele…so much pain and so much beauty…

    And thanks too, for solving my dinner quandry for tonight!
    I love avocadoes and this dressing looks divine.

    I’m off to the market 🙂

    Reply
  7. Patti

    June 23, 2014 at 1:43 pm

    Whenever I get the perfect avocado it just makes me happy happy happy. I love Hass avocados, there is just something about them; give me some salt and pepper and a fork and I’m in heaven. And as much as I love avocados, I’ve never made a dressing with them so I guess it’s about time to start!

    Reply
  8. noel

    June 23, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    5 stars
    That dressing looks nice and easy, something I would love to try making…i love visiting markets like this and tasting local foods.

    Reply
  9. Lesley Peterson

    June 23, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Glorious photos! I’d love to visit Guatemala someday. Oh to have so many fresh avocadoes at hand. The dressing sounds delicious.

    Reply
  10. Neva @ Retire for the Fun of it

    June 23, 2014 at 6:15 pm

    5 stars
    Beautiful and amazing views of this place that you captured so well. I’m curious now if the women want to continue washing clothes and not change or if the new area doesn’t have the cleanest facilities for them to want a change.

    Reply
    • Michele Peterson

      June 23, 2014 at 6:33 pm

      Hi Neva…thanks for stopping by! From what I heard the women prefer to wade right into the cool lake waters and wash their clothes on a rock rather than do their laundry beneath a hygienic (but sterile) washing facility. I don’t blame them….the water looked very inviting. I noticed abandoned washing facilities in other villages and heard the same reason so I suspect it may have some truth to it.

  11. esperanza

    June 23, 2014 at 7:11 pm

    5 stars
    Such a beautiful country and so much sorrow which I hope is just a sad memory. The recipe for avocado dressing sounds delicious and I wish I could buy a big bag of them as pictured. Will have to make do with the local produce but I’m sure it will taste lovely

    Reply
  12. Anda@ Travel Notes & Beyond

    June 23, 2014 at 7:25 pm

    What a gorgeous picture of Lake Atitlan! Your recipe sounds very tasty. I love avocado, so I think I’ll try it for my next party.

    Reply
  13. Michelle

    June 24, 2014 at 12:44 am

    Guatemala looks so heavenly and I’m so happy to find a recipe that me ( a vegetarian) can eat that looks so mouth watering! Thank you for the directions on how to make this dressing!

    Reply
  14. Carole Terwilliger Meyers

    June 24, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    What a yummy souvenir!

    Reply
  15. Anita @ No Particular Place To Go

    June 24, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    We visited Santiago Atitlan and three other villages located on Lago Atitlan for a few days last year and I have to agree with you that it’s one of our favorite destinations as well. The colorful dress of the people who live there, the beauty of the weavings that the women’s co-ops make and the stunning scenery are hard to describe. Great job with the photos!

    Reply
  16. A Cook Not Mad (Nat)

    June 24, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    That looks like a great recipe! Will definitely try it.

    Reply
  17. Lori Bosworth

    June 24, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    I have to bring a summer salad to the annual family barbecue so I think I’ll make your avocado dressing for that occasion! Amazing that the women are still washing their clothes in the lake. It must be quite clean!

    Reply
  18. Agness

    June 24, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    It looks delicious and very easy to make. I love avocado and I have it regularly in my smoothies :).

    Reply
  19. Kristin Henning

    June 25, 2014 at 3:44 am

    Thanks for the recipe, and gorgeous photos.

    Reply
  20. Susan

    June 25, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    You had me at “avocado”….

    Reply
  21. Suzanne Fluhr

    June 26, 2014 at 1:59 am

    I’ve read about ongoing violence (probably criminal, not political) still going on in Guatemala. Is that mostly confined to Guatemala City? The Lake Atitlan area looks serene and peaceful. I assume you felt comfortable there. We lived in Mexico for a year and the colors, smells and sounds of the markets is one of my memories. Here in the northeastern US, the type of avocados you describe are difficult to come by. (Lovely photos, BTW).

    Reply
    • Michele Peterson

      June 26, 2014 at 11:58 am

      Hi Suzanne..Lake Atitlan (and in particular Panajachel where I stayed) is a very safe place to visit. The only reports I’ve heard are of robberies on a few of the remote treks. Hiring a qualified and accredited guide is a wise idea.

  22. sarah

    June 27, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Your photos are beautiful and bring back memories of our recent stay at Lake Atitlan. We only had 3 weeks in Guatemala but we absolutely loved it and can’t wait to go back. I never got even a whiff of the crime that is reported to be so prevalent…not to say it isn’t there but it certainly isn’t as in your face as some report. I will definitely be trying that recipe!

    Reply
  23. Suzanne Jones

    June 27, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    She was a savvy vendor! There’s nowhere like a local market for picking up a real feel for a place. The dressing looks delicious…

    Reply
  24. alison @GreenWithRenvy

    June 29, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    Nothing better than a good recipe inspired by a wonderful travel experience. Can’t wait to try this as a dip with all the great vegetables appearing at the farmers market this time of year. Looks delicious!

    Reply
  25. Heather

    August 11, 2014 at 12:49 pm

    This looks scrumptious – trying it out tonight!

    Reply
  26. Emily Kydd

    June 4, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    Great photos, Atitlan is gorgeous! Loved it when I was there, and mmmm the foooooood!!!!

    Reply

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About A Taste for Travel

Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico, publisher Michele Peterson’s award-winning work has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source , National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and  100+ other publications. 

At A Taste for Travel — along with a team of expert travel writers and photographers — she  helps readers plan vacations and make delicious global recipes at home. 

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