Organicville Non-Dairy Ranch Dressing (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free)

By Alisa Fleming - Organic, Vegan, Ranch Salad Dressing…seriously, have I died and gone to a dairy-free heaven?  Believe it or not, Organicville Foods has released the first ever organic, shelf stable, non-dairy ranch.  But wait, it gets even better.  This salad dressing is also gluten-free and contains no added sugar.  I was sold.  To be honest, with these creamy credentials, Organicville’s Ranch would have to be somewhat distasteful to not make my list of “likes.”  Thus, I solicited additional unbiased opinions to ensure I was giving the full scoop.

First, I went for an unadulterated taste to get the full flavor effect.  It had a good creamy ranch texture and the right blend of herbs.  I was a bit startled by the tangy taste.  It seemed to be a bit sharper than I remembered Ranch dressing, though admittedly, it has been a few years. 

Now it was time to put it to the application test.  We selected salads, vegetables, and spicy chicken strips as our mediums.  There was no doubt by anyone that this was an excellent dressing.  It added zest and indulgence to our salads, and served as an excellent chicken strip dip.  I wasn’t as partial to this dressing as a veggie dip.  It was a bit thin for such dipping, and I felt that it overpowered the natural flavor of the assortment we trialed.  Though, I am a pure vegetable fan, and seemingly alone in my stance. 

For myself, the height of perfection was a billowing salad, topped with homemade chicken strips, and doused with Organicville’s Ranch.  The others agreed that this was a delicious main dish.  I think it would be equally excellent on a salad topped with tempeh for a purely vegan meal. 

One reviewer had the most accurate comments in my opinion.  “Gardeny,” he stated, “You can taste each of the herbs as if they are fresh.”  Also, it seems the tangy vibe I sensed was not in my head.  The consensus was that this was more of a creamy ranch vinaigrette than a pure salad dressing.  Not to be misleading, it wasn’t overly runny or oily in any way.  It was a pleasant cross between traditionally thick Ranch dressing and an herb vinaigrette, retaining the creamy indulgence of the Ranch and the fresh and flavorful feel of the vinaigrette.

My last bit of doubt about the widespread appeal of this salad dressing was put to rest when I put out a selection of dressings for my husband’s salad at lunchtime.  For as long as I have known him, he always selects the most Asian style dressing available.  Yet with a freshly opened bottle of Asian sesame vinaigrette staring him in the face, he picked up Organicville’s Ranch.  “This stuff is quite good,” he casually proclaimed.

My Extra Notes & Tips

• I was pleased with the slight off-white color of this salad dressing.  All natural in every way, Organicville opted to forgo the whitener.
• I just have to comment on the cutely attractive bottles that are perfectly sized for the refrigerator door.
• From a health standpoint, the only flaw I could find was a to-be-expected dose of sodium.  At 9g of fat per 2 Tablespoons, and just 1g of sugar, this dressing puts the highly processed Ranch dressings to shame.  It is also free of cholesterol and trans fats due to its vegan and organic qualities respectively. 
• We forgot to trial this as a sandwich condiment, likely another excellent option.

Where to Purchase:  Though produced by a U.S. company, Organicville is popping up around the globe.  Check Organicville's where to purchase page to find both online and in store information.