Name: Basil Buttermilk Dressing
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2/3 cup buttermilk; 1/3 cup mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon minced shallot; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1/4 cup packed (roughly chopped basil leaves); 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar; 1 teaspoon sugar; salt (to taste)

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Summer fresh basil is the star of this creamy Basil Buttermilk Dressing. This versatile homemade salad dressing is a wonderful choice for your summer salads.

A green salad dressed with Basil Buttermilk Dressing shot from the top.

Each year when graduation time rolls around, I find myself reminiscing. And, of course, all of my memories seem to be tied to food.

Our youngest son’s graduation from UC Santa Barbara brings back memories of this unforgettable Basil Buttermilk Dressing. Adam and his girlfriend arranged for a post-graduation lunch at The Bistro at the gorgeous Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara. Our two families sat outdoors on a gloriously sunny California day and I ordered a grilled chicken salad that was topped with this dreamy dressing.

Basil Buttermilk Dressing in a mason jar with a spoon.

After returning home, I couldn’t get this darned dressing off my mind so I emailed the resort to ask if they’d be kind enough to share the recipe. I really didn’t have much hope of a response but lo and behold, Chef Jeffrey O’Brien took the time to respond with small batch version of this delicious dressing that can easily be prepared at home.

Ingredients

The star of this show is fresh basil. If you happen to be growing basil in your herb garden this year, this easy buttermilk salad dressing is a fabulous way to use it.

buttermilk
mayonnaise
minced shallot
Dijon mustard
minced garlic
roughly chopped basil leaves
white wine vinegar (see note below)
sugar
salt

The restaurant version calls for champagne vinegar but I opted for white wine vinegar which is far less expensive and always stocked in my pantry. If you happen to have a bottle of champagne vinegar on hand, definitely use it here, but I don’t think it is worth the cost to purchase it specifically to make this recipe.

A mason jar full of Basil Buttermilk Dressing shot from the top.

Just pulse the ingredients together in your food processor or blender until smooth and creamy.

Storing Dairy Based Salad Dressing

Transfer your salad dressing to an airtight container. Mason jars or plastic storage containers with tight fitting lids work well.
Refrigerate any unused dressing promptly.
Dairy based dressings and dressings that include fresh herbs should be consumed within 1 week.

A spoon lifts some of the Basil Buttermilk Dressing from a mason jar.

Serving Suggestions

This Basil Buttermilk Dressing is nearly as versatile as a basic buttermilk Ranch dressing. It is delicious served over a main dish grilled chicken or seafood based salad or just drizzled over a simple tossed green side salad.

At The Bistro it was served on a baby spinach salad with avocado, pistachios, hard boiled egg, grilled chicken breast, blueberries, flax seeds, and goat cheese. Amazing.

A white bowl filled with green salad with a mason jar full of dressing behind it.

An herb-based salad dressing like this one is a great way to add a burst of freshness to any salad.