Catalina Dressing Recipe

This Catalina dressing recipe is sweet, spicy, and perfect for putting on everything! From shrimp to salad, wings to a sub - this is...

Let me tell you about my history with salad dressing before I tell you how to make this delicious sweet and spicy dressing - which has to be one of my favorites.

As a child in an ethic family, there were no store bought salad dressings in my house. We had salad dressed with oil and vinegar. Sometimes as a special treat, my Italian grandmother would use a packet of seasoning to add to the dressing.

By the time I went off to college, I felt deprived of the creamy orange or white stuff in a bottle that many of my friend’s moms served at the dinner table. Then I met my college roommate who also was from an Italian family that used oil and vinegar on their salads.

Well, let me tell you about these two salad dressing deprived roommates. We would rush to the school cafeteria and make a beeline for the salad bar at every meal. The bottled dressing was put on our salads like it was liquid gold. Dressing never tasted so good!

Fast forward to me being an adult foodie.  Oil and vinegar is again garnishing my salads. But I also like to make homemade dressings. Sure, I buy some ranch dressing for my children that think a bottle of creamy dressing is the greatest. I get it. I’ve been there. But homemade salad dressing is so easy to make, so why not do it yourself once in a while?

So let’s go back to my college days again when I worked in a Mexican restaurant. I am not sure why but a Mexican rice salad tastes so good with Catalina dressing. There is something amazing about the mixture of rice, avocados, tomatoes, olives, and cheese with this reddish orange dressing poured over it.  

Since then, I have occasionally bought a bottle of Catalina dressing but decided to start making it myself. I like some zip to my dressing, so I made it a little spicy by adding some Sriracha sauce. To adjust the spiciness, you can add as much or as little as you like. You can even leave it out if you like too.  

This dressing can be made in a food processor or blender but it is easy enough to whisk together in a bowl.  Either way, this zesty salad dressing is a winner!

Planning a dinner party and need some inspiration?

How about looking for a new slow cooker dinner idea?

We’ve got you covered in our ever-growing Facebook group! If you’re not a member yet, why not?!

We’re chatting cooking techniques, dessert ideas, and everything in between. If you’re already a member, invite your friends to join us too!

Are you a salad fanatic? Try these other yummy salads and dressings.

Dill Buttermilk Salad Dressing from Katie's Cucina

Cabbage Salad with Honey Lime Dressing from Rachel Cooks

The Pioneer Woman Homemade Ranch Dressing

Homemade Caesar Dressing from Christina Lane

Edamame Salad from Emily Caruso

Kale, Chickpea and Cashew Salad from Homemade Cravings