The Base

• The base of Catalina dressing is what would be described in the salad world as a "vinaigrette," a mixture of oil and vinegar with various spices and flavorings added. Decide how much dressing you will need before choosing the ingredients for, and mixing, the base. Adding extra oil and vinegar after the other ingredients are mixed in can be tricky. Choose an apple cider vinegar as part of your base for a slightly sweet but acidic taste. Use high quality olive oil to help bind the ingredients together and add a rich, smooth taste to the dressing. A 2:1 ratio of oil to vinegar is usually preferred.

Choosing the Ingredients

• Catalina dressing is spicy and sweet. Choose ingredients that will enhance this ideal. Paprika, cayenne pepper, white onions, celery seeds, salt and sugar are all found in recipes for Catalina dressing. Some recipe aficionados claim that ketchup is the staple ingredient for Catalina dressing, while others argue that this is tantamount to kitchen sacrilege; however, the mixture is largely up to the individual.

  Commercially available Catalina dressings are primarily spicy with only a hint of sweetness to them. When in doubt, experiment with small batches until you are satisfied with the taste.

Putting it Together

• Mince all of your ingredients, except for the oil, in a blender until they are finely ground. After the ingredients are mixed and chopped, blend in the oil until the dressing appears smooth and thick. Use on a salad or store in a refrigerated air-tight container. Because oil and vinegar do not emulsify, they have a habit of separating. If separation occurs or is a problem after storing, mix the dressing again to reintegrate all of the ingredients.