Wasabi Cucumber Ranch Dressing: Zesty wasabi and cool cucumbers are the perfect pairing in this delicious homemade salad dressing. It’s quick and easy too!
So I’ve been sleep-snacking again lately…
Yes, again.
It started with my 6am banana routine and now includes a balanced sleep-breakfast of fruit and cereal. At least I think it has. I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping a box of cinnamon oat squares on my nightstand and have been waking up to cereal-shaped surprises in my bed. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve found a quaker oat square stuck to your leg in the morning.
Actually, I’m no stranger to sleep shenanigans. As a kiddo I was infamous for prancing around in my footed pajamas in a slightly comatose state. I’d grab a glass of water, a handful of ice cubes to munch on, or just simply trot around the house until my pillow lured me back in. Nothing major. Though sometimes I’d wake up in the closet.
I still haven’t figured that one out.
This post actually has nothing to do with sleeping. Or snacking. But it does have everything to do with salads!
Let’s OD on them before fall kicks in full force and takes away the bulk of our summer produce. Like cucumbers… Ohmygosh I’m going to miss cucumbers!!!
Of course since it’s the end of summer you’ve probably been shoveling salads into your face for the past few months, eh? Feeling a bit bored? Let’s change that with a new dressing!
Wasabi Cucumber Ranch Dressing
Re-vamp a pile of veggies and greens by introducing a new flavor combination to the mix!
This dressing is creamy, refreshing, and zesty thanks to the combination of crisp cucumber, cool greek yogurt, and, of course, wasabi!
wahhh-sahhh-beeeee!!!
I keep wasabi powder on hand since it’s a little more authentic and has a much longer shelf-life. It’s basically just dried wasabi that needs to be reconstituted with water. Mixing the powder with cold water forms a paste; easy peasy!
I can keep it handy alongside my spices and mix up as much or as little wasabi paste as I need this way and LOVE it! If you’re running to the store, I suggest hunting this down
If you already have wasabi paste handy, just adjust the amount added to the dressing per your tastebuds since different brands will vary in intensity. Either way, you’re covered and ready for one baller dressing!
Serve over a gorgeous green salad piled high with your favorite vegetables and lots. of. cucumber. If you’re looking for a protein boost, add raw or roasted chickpeas or even seared tuna to the salad too!
Wasabi Cucumber Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- ¼ cup chopped english cucumber
- 1 TBSP chopped red onion
- 1.5 TBSP wasabi powder (see notes below)
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt
- ¼ cup low-fat buttermilk
- ¼ cup all-natural mayonnaise
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp dried dill (optional)
Instructions
- Get Blending! After chopping your veggies, add all the above ingredients to a food processor or blender and pulse until smooth.
- The dressing will thicken after spending a little time in the fridge and you can also add 1-2 tablespoons of greek yogurt to thicken immediately. I like my dressings a bit more runny since they cover more ground (aka veggies!) that way. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
so… what else can you do with wasabi?!
Spread it on homemade sushi or whip it into fluffy wasabi mashed potatoes — YUM!
You can even channel the flavor of this dressing and take it a step further with an AVOCADO-based Wasabi Cucumber Dressing. It’s a fabulous combo of zesty and refreshing, and vegan too!
Questions & Reviews
How about putting it on chicken wings?
Oh yum! Sounds like a good dunking sauce for them!
Hi Jenn … I had some fabulous Cucumber Wasabi Dressing in a restaurant and so was anxious to try your recipe (I did order the dried Wasabi you recommended). Anyway, I made your avocado version first and it was terribly bitter. I made sure the cucumber was okay and then tried your ranch version …. still bitter. Added a bit of sugar and it was bittersweet! LOL
So where do you think I went wrong here? Is it possible that I got a bad batch of Wasabi powder?
Help!
Hi Karen! I’ll help you investigate! You mentioned the cucumber was okay but my first question would be what kind of cucumber did you use and did you use the skin?
Certain varieties of cucumber have a bitter skin while some have a more mild skin on them and if the bitter stuff gets into a dressing I could see how it could change the flavor profile. My other thought is same as yours, the batch of wasabi, and then lastly I would look towards the raw onion in the recipes (red in one and green in the other) as being bitter to your tastebuds (My spouse and I are raw onion fiends but not everyone is the same!) Let me know and I am happy to help delve a little deeper! xo
YUM! I love the sound of this. I love when dressings have a good kick to them!
“You haven’t truly lived until you’ve found a quaker oat square stuck to your leg in the morning.” <- Haha! Love it! I used to be a big sleepwalker when I was young too…I never actually tried to leave the house, but my parents were so nervous that they bought not one but TWO deadbolts for the front door just in case! The worst it ever got was the night I walked into the kitchen and thought I was in the bathroom…luckily my dad was still up watching tv on the couch and saved me from family embarrassment! 😉
This sounds like the perfect dipping sauce for the next batch of summer rolls I whip up! It’ll finally give me a reason to crack open that tub of wasabi powder I’ve had in my spice cabinet for like two years! 😯
I’d also like to remind you that only plantains should be eaten publically
I want this on a pita with a salmon burger and a glass of white. thanks.
Yum this sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it out
Yum! Can’t wait to try it! I’m a wasabi addict lately.
YUM! I just pinned it! 🙂
Gahh yum! And I love your stories about waking up to cereal stuck on you. 😉
You better be eating all the spicy foods!!!
I’m so excited to try this. I found a place in town that has REAL wasabi (not the harseradish American stuff).
OMGOSH I LOVE YOU.
“this post has nothing to do with sleeping or snacking”
🙂
YUM! we love foods with a kick and this looks cool, refreshing, and spicy!! and you could really dip ANYTHING in it!! yum!