Buttermilk Herb Ranch-Style Dressing

• 2 tbsp chives, very finely chopped
  Swaps for chives

  Instead of chives

  • Dried chives: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Freeze-dried chives keep color but little flavor; use them only as a garnish.
  • Green onion tops: The same amount, sliced thin. Stronger and crunchier.

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• 2 tbsp parsley, very finely chopped
  Swaps for parsley

  Instead of parsley

  • Dried parsley: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Very mild; it adds color more than flavor.
  • Cilantro: The same amount. Stronger and citrusy; suits Mexican and Asian dishes.
  • Celery leaves or chervil: The same amount. Celery leaves are peppery and grassy; chervil is mild with a hint of anise.

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• 1 tbsp dill, very finely chopped
  Swaps for dill

  Instead of dill

  • Dried dill: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Dried dill (dill weed) is fair: grassier and weaker, better in dips and dressings that sit for a while.
  • Fennel fronds: The same amount. A light anise note; similar look.
  • Fresh tarragon: Half as much. Stronger anise flavor.

  More for dill

• ½ cup mayonnaise ≈ 110 g
  Swaps for mayonnaise

  Instead of mayonnaise

  • Plain Greek yogurt: The same amount. Tangier and lighter; a bit looser.
  • Egg-free (vegan) mayo: The same amount. Very close.
  • Sour cream: The same amount. Tangier and less rich.

  All 4 swaps for mayonnaise

  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

• ½ cup sour cream ≈ 115 g
  Swaps for sour cream

  Instead of sour cream

  • Plain Greek yogurt: The same amount (full-fat for baking). Tangier and a little less rich.
  • Crème fraîche: The same amount. Richer and milder, and it doesn't curdle in hot sauces.
  • Cottage cheese, blended: The same amount, blended smooth with a squeeze of lemon. Milder and less rich, with more protein.

  All 4 swaps for sour cream

• ½ cup buttermilk, plus more to thin
  Swaps for buttermilk

  Instead of buttermilk

  • Milk + lemon juice or vinegar: 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar in a measuring cup, topped up with milk to 1 cup, for each cup. Thinner and a bit less tangy, so bakes are a touch less tender.
  • Plain yogurt + milk: ¾ cup plain yogurt + ¼ cup milk for each cup (with Greek yogurt: ½ cup + ½ cup). The closest match for tang and thickness.
  • Plain kefir: The same amount. Similar tang, a little thinner.

  All 4 swaps for buttermilk

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
  Swaps for lemon juice

  Instead of lemon juice

  • Lime juice: The same amount. A different, more floral aroma; works almost everywhere.
  • Bottled lemon juice: The same amount. More sour and flatter; fine in cooking and baking, less bright in dressings and drinks.
  • White wine vinegar or white vinegar: Half as much. Sharper, with no citrus aroma.

  More for lemon juice

• ½ tsp garlic powder
  Swaps for garlic powder

  Instead of garlic

  • Fresh garlic: 1 clove for each ⅛ tsp powder, minced fine. Sharper and stronger.
  • Granulated garlic: About twice as much as the powder. The same flavor in coarser grains, which blend better into rubs.

  More for garlic

• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp kosher salt
  Swaps for kosher salt

  Instead of salt

  • Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
  • Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.

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• ¼ tsp black pepper

Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.