Bethany's Chuy's Imitation Jalapeño Cilantro Lime Sauce

In Texas....or at least at our ranch, we love our salsas and dips with our chips, or tortilla chips as you might call them. Sometimes, I can almost make a meal in itself off of our 'chips and dips' and before you know it you've filled yourself up and have no room left for the main dish, or suppers as we call it in the South.
One Texas haunt of a Mexican Food Cantina or Restaurant is Chuy's.  My girls were introduced to this great restaurant chain by their agriculture advisor on their many trips across our great state of Texas.  Mr. Thomas' unique gift is not only being a great teacher and mentor to many, but finding that hole in the wall food joint that is what my girls would term 'off the chain'...or good!  Chuy's soon became one of their favorite restaurants and especially when one opened up in good old College Station or Aggieland!
My middle daughter Bethany being a hard core Pinterest pinner, found this recipe on their site www.pinterest.com  and tweaked it to fit her taste.  The result is one fantastic appetizer that you could literally just spoon out and eat.  No chips required if you don't want it...this recipe is just that darn good!
Now calories...we don't want to discuss that....  But if you are calorie conscious, you can do what her friend Molly L. did and use plain nonfat yogurt instead of the REAL Mayonnaise and she thinks it makes a thicker and healthier version.  Molly is a budding cook herself and thankfully a follower of my blog!

If you are serving this outside, be mindful of the ingredients and keep an ice bowl under your serving bowl to keep the dip safe to eat.  Bethany enjoys makes large batches of this and it keeps in the refrigerator for a week.  She told her roommates at college that they were going to be excited or 'pumped' that she knew how to make this now!     

Bethany's Chuy's Imitation Jalapeño Cilantro Lime Sauce

1 cup Real Mayonnaise or 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt (we prefer Dannon's)
1 cup buttermilk
1 to 3/4 cup jalapenos, canned or fresh & a little of the juice if from can (take out white insides and seeds to reduce heat) wear gloves or wash hands quickly :o) - you might add this to you own taste...
1 cup tomatillo salsa (store bought) or The Ranch Kitchen's Tomatillo Salsa recipe here at http://www.theranchkitchen.blogspot.com/2012/06/tomatillo-salsa.html?m=1

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
3 packs dry Ranch mix

1 teaspoon lime juice, optional 

garlic salt to taste, optional 

In a food processor or blender, pulse or chop cilantro and add tomatillo salsa, jalapeño, lime juice, Real Mayonnaise, buttermilk, and Ranch Dressing powdered mix. Pulse and then taste. You might like the addition of garlic salt.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt at a time to taste, as a little goes a long way. 

Serve with tortillas chips and enjoy!  Or a spoon like me!

Alise @ The Ranch Kitchen