Nut-Free Vegan Ranch Dip

Ranch dip just simply makes everything taste better. It is creamy, full of fresh herbs, and so delicious! I love using ranch as a dressing or as a dip for veggies. It can even work as a spread for sandwiches or a sauce for pasta or pasta salads!

You're going to love this ranch dip for multiple reasons. For one – it's super tasty. Secondly, there is no dairy, it's completely vegan, and it's nut and oil-free! Using a base of soft tofu keeps this dip creamy while still being healthy. Not to mention it's full of protein!

1. No cooking required! It couldn't get any simpler! All you need to do for this is add the ingredients to a food processor and blend! No need to turn on an oven or a stove.
2. Full of Protein! Per serving (there are 6 servings in this recipe!) there are 8 grams of protein. This is such a fun way to add more protein to your meals by using this as a dip or a spread for a lower-protein meal.
3. Pairs very well with raw vegetables and with dishes like:
   • Vegan Kale Quinoa Salad
     • Add the ranch as a dressing instead of the pesto!
   • Crispy Tofu with Honey Soy Glaze
     • Dip the tofu into the ranch!

• Soft Tofu - Soft or silken tofu is the key ingredient to this vegan ranch dip! We blend up the tofu with the other ingredients to create a silky, creamy, but still thick base. Using tofu helps to keep this recipe dairy-free and nut-free.
• Lemon Juice - Lemon juice adds a nice bright acidity and flavor. It is also the only liquid added to this dip, which keeps it thick. To make a thinner dip, add more lemon juice or add water.
• Shallot - I love using shallots because they are so flavorful but have less of a bite than regular onions or raw garlic!
• Fresh Herbs - Parsley, Dill, and Chives are the most important herbs for this dish. I highly recommend using all 3. If you love other herbs, feel free to add more in addition to those 3!
• Salt & Garlic Powder - Instead of using raw garlic, I like to use garlic powder. Add plenty of salt as well.

• Food Processor
• Knife

Prepare the tofu by removing it from its packaging and draining the liquid. Lightly pat it dry, but do not worry about pressing the excess liquid out.

Cut it up however you need to for it to fit into your food processor. Go ahead and blend it up as much as you can before adding anything else.

Roughly chop the shallot and squeeze the lemon.

Add the lemon juice as well as the herbs, shallot, salt, and garlic powder.

Blend this for at least 30 seconds until everything is fully combined and there are no chunks of shallot or herbs.

Taste the ranch and adjust levels of salt, herbs, and lemon. To thin out the dip for more of a dressing-like consistency, add more lemon juice or water and blend again.

Serve the ranch dip in a bowl or on a plate. Enjoy this with raw vegetables, pita bread, chips, or with your favorite salad.

• Be sure to use very soft or silken tofu! Firmer tofus won't result in the same silky texture. If you can't find soft tofu and have to use firm, be sure to add more liquid in the form of extra lemon juice, a bit of water, or a small amount of non-dairy milk.
• Increase the flavor level by adding extra herbs! Blend up some scallions, tarragon, cilantro, or even lemongrass to create some more rich flavors.
• For best results, use a good quality food processor. A blender will work in a pinch, but may need some extra blending and stirring to get as smooth.

Vegan ranch can be made multiple ways. Many people make it using vegan mayonnaise, highly processed oils, as well as herbs and spices. Many people also use cashews as a base and blend them to create creaminess. This recipe uses tofu to achieve the creamy factor without using nuts or highly processed oils!

The classic Hidden Valley Ranch is not vegan. However, Hidden Valley is soon to come out with a vegan version of their classic ranch dressing.

Traditionally, yes. Classic ranch usually uses buttermilk, milk, yogurt, or sour cream to build its creamy base.

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