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5 stars (11 reviews)
5 minutes mins
Posted by Sommer Collier on Aug 30, 2021
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Homemade Catalina Dressing Recipe: This is a creamy, zesty salad dressing recipe that is perfect over taco salads, avocados, or as a dip!
Amazing Catalina Dressing
Today I’m sharing an awesome crunchy salad I call the Ultimate Dorito Taco Salad Recipe tossed with Catalina dressing. But this post will focus on the salad dressing itself…
There is a bottled version of this dressing, and then there’s bold and zesty homemade dressing. I’m sure you can guess which one I suggest using.
This simple salad dressing recipe takes less than 5 minutes to make and is so much better than store-bought dressing. Plus you can adjust the salt, spice, and sweetness to taste to make it exactly how you like it.
Best Dressing Recipe Ingredients
This recipe only takes 7 ingredients to make! And I bet you have most of them in your pantry right now. If not, get your shopping list ready. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Red Wine Vinegar – This offers a deep tangy taste to the recipe, that offers a better fuller flavor than using regular white wine vinegar.
- Ketchup – The perfect blend of tomatoes and sugar to make the base.
- Honey – You can either use honey or agave! Of course, this adds a sweet flavor to the dressing.
- Worcestershire Sauce – A salty savory condiment to add depth and intrigue.
- Smoked Paprika – This adds a smoky flavor to the dressing. Try turning up the heat by using hot smoked paprika.
- Onion Powder – Get a more concentrated onion flavor by using onion powder.
- Grapeseed Oil – If you don’t have (or can’t find) grapeseed oil just replace it with any other flavorless oil.
How To Make Homemade Catalina Dressing
- Pour the vinegar, ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and onion powder in a blender. Cover and puree.
- With the blender running, open the vent in the lid and slowly drizzle the oil into the blender to emulsify. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate the salad dressing in an air-tight container for up to a month.
See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make Homemade Salad Dressing + VIDEO. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long Does This Recipe Last?
Since there are a lot of vinegar-based products in this homemade salad dressing recipe, it can last for quite a while in your fridge. One month to be exact! Make sure to place it in an airtight container before chilling.
What Is A Good Replacement For Grapeseed Oil?
If you don’t have (or can’t find) grapeseed oil just replace it with any other flavorless oil. Avocado oil is a great substitute.
What’s the Difference Between French and Catalina Dressing?
Although these two salad dressings are very similar, the general consensus is that French Salad Dressing tends to have little (or even no) tomato products, whilst true Catalina always contains either ketchup or tomato paste. Therefore, Catalina usually has a stronger tangy-sweet flavor. The orange color in the French dressing often comes from ample use of paprika.
What Else Can I Use This Dressing On Other Than Salad?
This homemade recipe is not only fantastic on taco salad, but it’s also great…
- drizzled over avocado slices
- as a veggie dip
- brushed over baked chicken
- and as a spicy soup stir-in
So try giving these recipes a go. You’ll be so glad you did!
More Salad Dressing Recipes to Try!
- The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
- Grilled Romaine Salad + Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
- How To Make The Best Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
- Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing Recipe
- Creamy Garlic Lime Vinaigrette Recipe
- Texas Pete Vinaigrette Recipe
- Paleo Ranch Dressing (+ Homemade Chicken Salad)
- 3-Ingredient Almond Butter Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
- The Perfect Greek Salad Recipe
- Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe
- The Ultimate Wedge Salad Recipe
- Harvest Salad (Cobb Style) Recipe
- Chunky Strawberry Salad with Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
- Fattoush Salad with Grilled Vegetables Recipe
- Roasted Beet Chickpea and Kale Salad Recipe
- Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe from Five Heart Home
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5 stars (11 reviews)
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Homemade Catalina Dressing Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Homemade Catalina Dressing: This is a creamy, zesty salad dressing recipe that is perfect over taco salads, avocados, or as a dip!
Servings: 6 ounces
Ingredients
US Customary – Metric
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup honey, or agave
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 cup grapeseed oil
Instructions
Pour the vinegar, ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and onion powder in a blender. Cover and puree.
With the blender running, open the vent in the lid and slowly drizzle the oil into the blender to emulsify. Salt and pepper to taste.
Refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to a month.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1ounce, Calories: 225kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 133mg, Potassium: 73mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 235IU, Vitamin C: 0.6mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.3mg
Course: Dressing
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
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20 comments on “Homemade Catalina Dressing”
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Lori Bradley — Reply
Made this and it was very good. Ive and tangy, was perfect in my taco salad. For those who like me just have a little tiny individual style blender that you twist to blend. I got to the part about drizzling it in and it went oh shoot It worked for me with putting in half of the oil blending it and then adding the other half and blending it, and it emulsified just fine.
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joly1950 — Reply
Oh my gosh! This is delicious, easy to make and much cheaper than buying bottled salad dressing. I didn’t have red wine vinegar so I used white wine and rice vinegar. Also didn’t have grape seed oil so I used EVOO. Allergic to honey so I used 3T brown sugar. Turned out great! I have made a few vinaigrettes, but never a full on salad dressing before. I may never buy salad dressing again….
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macenna — Reply
I love this dressing recipe so much! it pairs so well with my taco salad that I make!
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Irene — Reply
Great flavor. Loved this recipe.
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Jenni W — Reply
Very delicious. Subbed apple cider vinegar for red wine vinegar because I didn’t have any of the latter. I thought it was perfect. Very easy & well-written directions.
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Shelly — Reply
Very smooth I added a tiny more honey but great taste
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Hans-Gustav Schwartz — Reply
flavorful and very satisfactory, especially when you consider I cannot get the original in this part of the world (Viet Nam).
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Jessica — Reply
Would’ve been perfect with regular paprika but the smoked paprika made it taste essentially like barbeque sauce, not even close to true Catalina dressing.
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Sherry Scott — Reply
Great flavor. Love that this recipe used honey instead of sugar. I made this dressing for taco salads and the combination of flavors was fantastic.
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Loretta Burkhalter — Reply
If I can’t find grapeseed oil, what would be a good substitute?
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Sommer Collier — Reply
Hi Loretta,
Any time of flavorless oil will work. :)
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Debbie Barney — Reply
Very nice, I especially loved the tang and smokiness. Will make again. I added a little extra honey to bring out the sweetness.
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Rose — Reply
I don’t think I’d even ever had Catalina dressing, and definitely not if there were other options, but I was making taco salad and came across this recipe. It was so good! Definitely a keeper!
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Gaby Dalkin — Reply
I’m sure this would be fantastic drizzled over tacos!!
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