CBD Infused Barbecue Ranch Dressing

During the summer months (and let’s be real, all year round), condiments are essential. Wether its for topping things on the grill, drizzling over a salad, using as a dipping sauce, etc… they’re perfect. But rather than your normal ketchup, mustard, ranch, all of that- I wanted to create an extra special one that is amazing on justtttt about anything. Barbecue Ranch Dressing, perfect for topping burgers, salads, hot dogs, served as a dipping sauce for veggies or tater tots, the list goes on. Infusing it with CBD really makes this dressing extra special too (but is totally optional).

I partnered up with CBDfx to bring you this recipe. They’re an amazing CBD company that ships nationwide from their site, www.cbdfx.com, & create some of the most high quality CBD I’ve ever personally tried. Their products are so clean, taste great, and they have a large range of products to choose from. Their unflavored tinctures are what I like to use for cooking, but you can also find gummies, flavored tinctures, vape pens, skincare, etc. from them! And most of their products are vegan!

Let’s talk about what the heck CBD even is, shall we?

It’s not a stretch to say that CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the most exciting and promising compounds currently undergoing rigorous medical and scientific research. CBD has made headlines in recent years for some pretty stunning results. Still, misinformation and confusion about CBD abounds due to the relatively recent emergence and widespread awareness of this incredible compound. Let’s take a deep dive into what cannabidiol (CBD) is, and exactly what it does — and doesn’t — do.

CBD is simply short for “cannabidiol”, the second-most abundant cannabinoid molecule produced by the cannabis or hemp plant. The most abundant molecule, of course, being THC: the psychoactive chemical famous for making users feel “high” (CBD does not have this effect). Keep in mind that your body already has an endocannabinoid system, an extremely important molecular system that your body uses to regulate and perform various critical functions. CBD binds to receptors in this system; our bodies were designed to interface with cannabinoids from the very beginning — we even naturally produce them!

But how does CBD work exactly? As we stated earlier, your body already has a wildly complex endocannabinoid system that affects several different areas and functions. That system is rife with “receptors,” sites that await cannabinoid molecules presence. When the cannabinoid nears, the receptor will bind it to itself, creating a sophisticated chemical interaction that modern science is only just beginning to scratch the surface of understanding.

Unlike its sister molecule THC, CBD does not make you feel high — but don’t think that a lack of psychoactive or intoxicating effect means that nothing is occurring. On the contrary, it’s very clear that there are many chemical responses that occur when CBD binds to those cannabinoid receptors. That being said, the endocannabinoid system is ubiquitous in the human body, affecting nearly all major functions in some way (especially homeostatic regulation). Because of this, it’s quite a task to discern everything that CBD does, exactly, when the binding occurs. That’s where the research is at right now: trying to solve that very mystery. There is plenty of information on the internet, especially CBDfx’s website if you have any further questions on it!

This Barbecue Ranch Dressing couldn’t be easier to make. You literally just have to add everything into either a bowl & whisk together, or put it all in a mason jar & shake to mix it. Y’all know I always got you covered with those easy as heck recipes. For this you’ll add your vegan mayonnaise, vegan plain unsweetened yogurt, regular unsweetened almond milk, fresh parsley, fresh dill, fresh chives, salt & pepper to taste, vegan friendly barbecue sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, distilled white vinegar, and CBDfx Hemp + MCT oil 30ml 500 series tincture, into a bowl and mix until combined. Make sure your fresh herbs are chopped very fine, so they mix in well and you don’t have huge parsley leaves floating around. See, I told you… easy as heck! And if CBD is not your thing, you can by all means leave it out! The CBD oil doesn’t have any flavor once mixed in, so you won’t even notice a difference. Make sure to transfer it into a mason jar and keep in the fridge for up to a week or two (if you don’t eat it all by then).

Also when making this, make sure to add less of all your wet ingredients (the almond milk / vinegar / and even though this is a dry ingredient, the spices) at first. Adjust as you go. Some people like their dressings to be thicker, some thinner, so you can adjust as needed. Plus the consistency you want should also depend on what your using it for! If you plan on using this on a burger or sandwich, you probably want it a little thicker. If you wanna use this on a salad, you’d probably want it to be thinner! Just keep adding and adjusting until everything is just right for you. If you make your mixture too thin though, adding some more mayo & yogurt will thicken it right back up!

I personally love drizzling this over a fresh salad, because theres no cooking required then, & it adds so much flavor. My favorite way to serve it is on top of a bed of romaine lettuce, red cabbage, & shredded carrots that were topped with fresh cilantro, scallions, crispy jalapenos, & fresh avocado. You can create any salad you’d like for this, adding vegan chicken, vegan bacon, other veggies, etc.

You can also adjust the amount of CBD to your liking, making it less strong, or even stronger if you prefer… or even leaving it out all together. The back of the package has all dosage instructions so follow those accordingly.

But that’s it! Super easy, super simple, great to make in bulk and keep in the fridge, and SO FUCKING TASTY. Plus a dressing that chills you the fuck out? Sign me right up. Big thanks to CBDfx for collaborating with me on this recipe, and make sure to check out their site for any of their amazing products! www.cbdfx.com