Creamy maple and smoked paprika dressing

🥄 Adjust consistency with a little water or vinegar

Depending on the brand of mayonnaise you use, your dressing may come out too thick. The first time I made my creamy maple dressing, it was too dense to coat properly. Simple solution: add a teaspoon of water at a time (or an extra splash of apple cider vinegar) until you reach the creamy but fluid consistency you like.

🌶️ Smoked paprika, the ingredient that changes everything

Smoked paprika brings that little spicy taste that reminds you of BBQ and transforms an ordinary dressing into something memorable. It’s one of my favorite ingredients, I use it in almost all my recipes. My favorite is the paprika doux fumé that I always keep in my spice cabinet. Regular paprika works as a substitute, but you lose the smoky side that gives the character.

🥚 Commercial or homemade mayonnaise

I always use commercial mayonnaise because I always have it in the fridge and it does the job perfectly. But if you want to take your dressing to another level, use my Homemade mayonnaise. The dressing becomes even creamier and the taste is incomparable.

🍎 Apple cider vinegar for the fruity touch

Apple cider vinegar brings a subtle apple flavor that pairs beautifully with maple syrup and smoked paprika. That’s what gives this dressing its unique profile. You can replace with white wine vinegar in a pinch, but you lose the fruity side.

🍯 Dark maple syrup for depth

Go for an amber or dark maple syrup (formerly category B/C). Its caramelized depth pairs better with smoked paprika than the delicate golden syrup from early season. Regular sugar doesn’t give the same result at all. It’s the maple that gives the Quebec character to the dressing.

🫙 Storage 5 to 7 days, better with time

This dressing keeps easily 5 to 7 days in an airtight Mason jar in the fridge. Good news: the flavors develop a bit over time, so it’s even better the next day. If you make a big batch for the week, you can double the recipe without problem.

🌮 Optional twists to personalize

Want to vary? Add half a teaspoon of chipotle powder for extra smoky heat, a splash of lime juice for more freshness, or half a grated garlic clove for more punch. For a taco version, grated garlic and lime are my two favorite additions.

✅ What to serve with my creamy maple and smoked paprika dressing?

This dressing is ultra versatile. The obvious classic: on my meilleure salade de pommes de terre au bacon (its original recipe). It’s also perfect on my Creamy coleslaw with pancetta to replace the usual dressing, or to drizzle my Bbq grilled shrimp skewers after cooking. For taco lovers, use it as a smoky creamy sauce. A combo that’s completely out of the ordinary.