Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups cottage cheese (small curd preferred, 2% or full-fat)
- ¼ cup milk or buttermilk (plus more to thin if needed)
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill (if using fresh dill)
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar or fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1-2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix for extra ranch flavor
- Optional: ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce for depth
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients: Measure out all your ingredients and have them ready. If using fresh herbs, wash and pat them dry, then chop them roughly—they don’t need to be perfectly minced since the blender will handle that. If your cottage cheese looks particularly watery, you can drain off excess liquid through a fine mesh strainer, though this usually isn’t necessary.
- Start with the base: Add the cottage cheese and milk (or buttermilk) to your blender or food processor. The liquid helps the cottage cheese blend more easily, so don’t skip it. If you’re using buttermilk, you’ll get that extra tangy ranch flavor that’s absolutely delicious.
- Add all seasonings and herbs: To the cottage cheese mixture, add the fresh herbs (dill, parsley, and chives), garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, vinegar or lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. If you’re using optional ingredients like ranch seasoning mix or Worcestershire sauce, add them now as well.
- Blend until completely smooth: Secure the lid on your blender and start on low speed, then gradually increase to high. Blend for 45-60 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed. The key to this recipe is blending long enough to transform the cottage cheese from grainy curds to a completely smooth, creamy consistency that looks like thick ranch dressing or sour cream. Don’t rush this step—proper blending makes all the difference between a lumpy dip and a restaurant-quality creamy one.
- Check consistency: Stop the blender and check the texture. The dip should be thick and creamy but still scoopable—similar to thick ranch dressing or sour cream dip. If it’s too thick for your liking, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time and blend briefly until you reach your desired consistency. For a thinner dressing-style consistency, add 2-4 tablespoons additional milk.
- Taste and adjust seasonings: This is the most important step! Taste your dip and adjust the seasonings as needed. You might want more salt, more vinegar for tanginess, more garlic powder for savory depth, or more herbs for freshness. Remember that flavors intensify after the dip sits in the refrigerator, so err slightly on the side of underseasoning if you’re unsure.
- Chill and serve: Transfer the dip to a serving bowl or storage container. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. The herbs will infuse into the cottage cheese, and everything will taste more harmonious. Give it a good stir before serving, as it may thicken slightly in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Smoothness is key: Blend for a full minute to ensure completely smooth texture. Grainy cottage cheese dip isn’t appetizing, but silky-smooth cottage cheese rivals traditional ranch.
- Consistency control: The dip will thicken after refrigeration. Add a splash of milk before serving if needed. For salad dressing consistency, use ½ cup milk total.
- Fresh vs. dried herbs: Fresh herbs provide the best flavor and appearance, but dried herbs work in a pinch. Use half the amount if substituting dried for fresh.
- Ranch seasoning shortcut: For the most authentic ranch flavor with less work, use 2 tablespoons of prepared ranch seasoning mix and reduce other seasonings slightly.
- Make it smoother: For ultra-smooth results, blend for 2 full minutes and strain through a fine-mesh sieve if any lumps remain.
- Flavor development: This dip tastes significantly better after resting in the refrigerator for at least an hour, ideally overnight.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 135mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 3mg