Traditional creamy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing gets a spicy kick using New Mexico Red Chile Powder.
I’m beginning to think that a pinch of New Mexico Red Chile Powder makes every single piece of food better. I’ve been sprinkling it on beans, over chicken, on beef, dousing pork with it, and now adding it to salad dressing. Everyone’s favorite Ranch Dressing gets a big kick with a hefty helping of dried New Mexican Red Chile.
On our recent trip to New Mexico, we had lunch at the famous James Beard Award Winning Rancho de Chimayo. Chimayo, New Mexico is located on the High Road between Santa Fe and Taos.
The restaurant is in a restored family home, and when we walked in, their warm hospitality made me feel like we were being welcomed into someone’s home.
The cuisine is traditional Northern New Mexican, and Carne Adovada is what put them on the map and earned them the James Beard Award. It’s a pork dish smothered in a rich red New Mexico sauce and served with rice and hominy. It’s an absolutely wonderful dish that defines the spirit of New Mexico cuisine. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone.
At their gift shop, I purchased a bag of New Mexico Red Chile Powder, a jar of their adovada sauce and their cookbook. I had been wondering what to add to Ranch Dressing to make it Southwest. New Mexico Red Chile Powder provided the answer. This Red Chile Ranch Dressing is a featured recipe in the Rancho de Chimayo Cookbook.
I used my Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe to make this spicy dressing, you can also use a package of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix like their recipe calls for. An affiliate link has been provided for your convenience.
This dressing also made a great Southwestern dip for potato chips, and would also work as a sauce for tacos. That’s next up.
Recipe for Red Chile Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
I hope you give this buttermilk ranch dressing recipe a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating.
Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes. And if you have a favorite spicy salad dressing recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
Red Chile Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 (1 ounce) Package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
- 3-4 teaspoons New Mexico Red Chile Powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Will keep in a sealed container for 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Is the New Mexico Red Chile Powder a blend of spices? I can’t find it near me, so I am thinking I might have to make my own… and maybe some of spices are around me. I know many spices like curry powder is a blend… I know making my own will not be the same, but maybe get me close…
Good morning. And thanks for your note and question.
New Mexico is not a blend of spices but rather a powder made from a single type of ground chile.
Substitute Ancho chile powder, or Cayenne. Be careful as cayenne can be very hot.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Oh my! I must try this! My husband is from very near Hatch, NM, and if it stands still, he wants to put green chile on it. We make a trip back to TorC almost every year to stock up on green chiles and red Chile power in various strengths. I have a fabulous recipe for a Hatch Green Chile vinaigrette, but this dressing sounds heavenly. I will be making it very soon
Rancho de Chimayo has a website to order their specialty items, including red or green chili powder, sauces, coffee, and honey. Check it out: http://ranchodechimayo.com.nmsrv.com/tienda/specialty_foods.htm
OMG, Lee Ann, I ate at Rancho de Chimayo while visiting Santa Fe and Taos between May 14-21. I would have loved meeting you in person. The restaurant was wonderful, as was the village and chapel. In fact, I fell in love with New Mexican cuisine, which was different than I expected. My friends who live in Rio Rancho insist that their cuisine is not Tex-Mex or Southwest; it’s very specific. I enjoyed the quesadillas at Rancho as my meal since the serving was enormous. The delightful waitress was very helpful and suggsted that, instead of choosing either chicken or beef, that I mix them. Wow, what a fabulous combination! And the pinon coffee capped the meal perfectly. I left my heart in NM and will return! Now I must try this dressing!
The restaurant is in a restored family home, and when we walked in, their warm hospitality made me feel like we were being welcomed into someone’s home.
I totally agree about that home-style hospitality. We loved the place.
Amazing sounding dressing. I’ve been putting green chili powder on everything. Every time we’ve been to Chimayo the restaurant has been closed (either by that horrific fire many years ago or b/c it’s a holiday). That meal looks delicious!
I have absolutely know idea how I returned from NM without any green powder. geeeeeez.
Oh this looks so delicious! My husband love this kind of dressing. I will make this for him. Thanks for sharing.
Let me know what he thinks!
Looks and sounds like a delicious dressing. I know I would have wanted this as a dipping sauce today. I will have to try this out.
Thanks David. My husband loved this for a dip for potato chips.
Love spicy mayo and spicy ranch. Never made on my own can’t wait to try this!
Thanks Michael – let me know what you think.
Now this is my kind of dressing. I love that the recipe looks easy to make.
Thanks Brandi – it is easy. I hope you give it a try.
This looks awesome and looks exactly like something I ate yesterday and had me wondering what was it: I couldn’t stop my sushi cravings so we went for vegetarian sushi, and they gave us a delicious sauce that I’m thinking is very similar to this one! I looove spicy things, so I’m sure I will enjoy this!
I hope you give it a try. Thanks Cynthia
Looks amazing. I love making everything homemade. So much healthier and better for you!
I couldn’t agree more! 🙂
Oooh I bet this would pair well with wings on a game night.
Great idea! Why didn’t I think of that. 🙂
That looks amazing. I think that restaurant is a must try! I love adding spice to my food and this ranch dressing recipe is a must try for me.
It’s a special place. Thanks AnnMarie
Every once in a while I have to go to Chimayo just to eat there. Good choice on the carne. It’s my favorite! Love what you chose to do with some of the red chile powder. Took Ranch dressing up a few notches. 🙂
Thanks MJ. We really liked that restaurant. I can’t wait to go back.
Rancho de Chimayo sounds like a fantastic restaurant that is really doing food right! Hidden Valley is my favorite ranch dressing mix and I love adding spicy ingredients. Ill try the chile powder you suggested and see how that tastes!
Rancho de Chimayo is a special place. I hope you can go sometime.
This recipe rocks! I love buttermilk ranch dressing and I sprinkle cayenne pepper on everything. Your recipe combines the best of both worlds!
Hi Chrissy, Thank you so much for the visit and the comment.
This sounds so amazing! I have been looking for a new dressing to mix up my weekly salads! Something spicy would be awesome!
Thanks Angela. Let me know how you like it.
Yum, this sounds delicious! I love ranch dressing, this sounds like a great addition to it!
Thanks Stephanie
I like it but would never have thought to add chile powder to ranch dressing.
That’s because you haven’t recently been to New Mexico. 🙂