Tender Lettuces With Kefir Ranch Dressing

This ranch dressing is creamy, delightfully tangy and packed with classic garlic and herb flavor, just like you'd expect. But it is much more healthful than the typical ranch because it uses the pourable, cultured milk product called kefir as its primary base ingredient instead of the usual mayonnaise and sour cream.

1/3 cup plain, full-fat kefir, well shaken

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

¼ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon garlic powder (granulated garlic)

¼ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

2 medium heads tender lettuces, such as butter or Bibb, leaves torn

Whisk together the kefir, mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, onion powder, granulated garlic, salt and pepper in a medium bowl, then stir in the chives.

Just before serving, gently toss the lettuce with the dressing until coated evenly. The dressing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Serves 4 (makes about ½ cup dressing)

Nutrition | Per serving: 70 calories, 2 g protein, 3 g carbohydrates, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 210 mg sodium, 0 g dietary fiber, 2 g sugar

From nutritionist and cookbook author Ellie Krieger