Catalina Salad Dressing – Barefeet within the Kitchen

Should you’re like me, you in all probability loved a traditional taco salad greater than as soon as in your childhood. It’s a staple for a lot of household and potluck occasions and has been for years. And in case you ate taco salad within the 70s, 80s, or 90s, it was doubtless made with Catalina salad dressing.

Ranch dressing might have taken over in recognition for a lot of salad lovers (and pizza lovers, vegetable lovers, chip lovers, you get my level), however Catalina nonetheless has a spot within the fridge for many people. That mentioned, the selfmade Catalina dressing I really like as we speak is a far cry from the grocery retailer variations I recall.

Catalina Dressing

Catalina is contemporary, daring, tangy, and candy, (although lots much less candy than business variations!) with loads of zesty flavors to maintain issues fascinating. At this level in my life, I might write an ode to selfmade salad dressings.

I really like how straightforward they’re to make, and the very fact you’ll be able to modify the flavors so simply to your tastes transforms daily dishes into one thing further particular. Need just a little warmth? Add a pinch of cayenne. Or for a little bit of smoky taste, attempt a splash of smoked paprika as an alternative of the plain selection.

There’s nothing in any respect difficult about making most salad dressings, nothing in any respect. You simply mix all the pieces in a jar, seal it tightly with a lid, and provides it a shake. For dressings (like this one and traditional balsamic French dressing), I like to make use of the blender to emulsify the dressing. That manner, it gained’t separate as rapidly and doesn’t require as a lot shaking whenever you’re prepared to make use of it.

I used this batch of Catalina dressing in an old-school taco salad, and wow, was this ever nostalgic. Crunchy crisp lettuce, seasoned floor beef, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and crunchy tortilla chips, all tossed with this zesty purple dressing. There’s simply one thing about Catalina dressing that ties all these flavors collectively completely.

The taco salads I recall from childhood had been normally made with plain tortilla chips, tossed complete into the salad or crushed a bit earlier than being added. Our associates, Paul and Dian, launched us to a taco salad made with Doritos after we had been all newlyweds, and I liked that variation a lot, we made our salads that manner for years. Now? No shock to anybody who is aware of me, I’m all concerning the Fritos. Nevertheless you make your taco salad, this dressing is a enjoyable and attractive flash from the previous.

I do know I don’t actually need to say this, however hey, that’s what I do, proper? Catalina dressing isn’t only for taco salad. It makes an incredible dipping sauce for grilled rooster or greens, and naturally, it’s a terrific choice for any variety of salads. So, even when taco salad isn’t your factor, a bottle of selfmade Catalina dressing might be an incredible addition to your condiment assortment.

If you need just a little extra salad inspiration, take a look at Tips on how to Eat Salad Each Day (and really prefer it!) That’s the spine to my salad-loving life, and so many individuals who’ve tried the following pointers have fallen in love with consuming salads.

Along with all of the salad concepts, the dressing choices are almost countless, too. Test them out and discover just a few new favorites!