‘Ohana Honey Lime Dressing (Disney’s Polynesian Resort Copycat)
This honey lime dressing is a copycat of the beloved dressing from Disney’s ‘Ohana restaurant at the Polynesian Resort. It takes about ten minutes to make and keeps well in the fridge all week.
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We had dinner at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort a few years ago, and I spent most of the meal thinking about the salad dressing. It was this bright, tangy honey lime dressing that I could not stop going back for.
When we went back, it was gone from the menu. A quick conversation with our server confirmed the dressing had been discontinued. I was genuinely disappointed, so I tracked down the original Disney recipe and started making it at home.
The good news is that it is easy to make and tastes just like I remembered. A handful of pantry ingredients, a food processor, and about ten minutes is all it takes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This dressing comes together in about ten minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- The honey and lime balance each other out really well, and the cider vinegar adds a little extra tang.
- It keeps in the refrigerator for a week or more, so you can make a batch and use it all week.
- It works on more than just salad. This dressing is good on slaw, as a dipping sauce, or drizzled over a grain bowl.
What Makes This Recipe Work
- Blending the ingredients before adding the oil makes the dressing smoother and helps everything emulsify properly.
- Cider vinegar gives the dressing a mild, slightly fruity tang that plays well with the lime and honey without being sharp.
- Dry mustard helps the oil incorporate into the dressing so it holds together rather than separating immediately.
- The ratio of honey to lime juice keeps things balanced. Neither one overpowers the other, which is why the dressing works on so many things.
What You’ll Need to Make ‘Ohana Honey Lime Dressing
- 1/4 cup of a white onion
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 cup honey (hint – spray the inside of the measuring cup with cooking spray, so the honey pours out easily)
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup olive or canola oil
How to Make ‘Ohana Honey Lime Dressing
Blend the Base
Add the onion, cider vinegar, lime juice, honey, dry mustard, and salt to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
Add the Oil
With the food processor running, slowly pour in the oil. Continue blending until the dressing is fully combined and looks slightly creamy.
Store and Serve
Pour the dressing into a mason jar or airtight container and refrigerate until you are ready to use it. Give it a good shake before serving since the oil will separate as it sits.
Ingredient Highlights
- Cider vinegar is the right choice here. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that does not compete with the lime the way white vinegar would.
- Fresh lime juice makes a difference in this recipe. Bottled lime juice works in a pinch, but the dressing tastes brighter with fresh.
- Dry mustard acts as an emulsifier, which helps the oil blend into the rest of the ingredients instead of pooling on top.
Simple Tips
- The dressing keeps well for about a week in the fridge, so it is worth making a full batch.
- Spray the inside of your measuring cup with cooking spray before measuring the honey. It pours out cleanly without sticking.
- Add the oil slowly with the food processor running rather than all at once. This helps the dressing come together smoothly.
- Give the jar a good shake before each use because the oil will separate in the refrigerator overnight.
So Many Ways to Enjoy
Keep a mason jar of ‘Ohana Honey Lime Dressing in your refrigerator and use it:
- on a quick salad, you whipped together for dinner
- as the dressing for your broccoli slaw
- with your veggies as a unique dip
- on a fruit salad
- in a giant salad for a party or potluck
Final Thoughts
This is one of those recipes I am really glad I tracked down. It is simple to make, it keeps well, and it genuinely tastes like the dressing from that dinner at ‘Ohana.
If you have never had the original, you are still in for a good one. The honey and lime combination is hard to argue with, and having a jar of it in the fridge makes it easy to put together a good salad any night of the week.
'Ohana Honey Lime Dressing | Disney World's Polynesian Resort
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of a white onion
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 cup honey hint – spray the inside of the measuring cup with cooking spray, so the honey pours out easily
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup olive or canola oil
Instructions
- Add the onion, cider vinegar, lime juice, honey, dry mustard, and salt to a food processor. Blend until smooth.
- With the processor running, slowly pour in the oil and continue blending until fully combined.
- Transfer to a mason jar or airtight container and refrigerate. Shake well before each use.
My favorite dressing ever! I wish they still served it there. I will be making this for a work staff picnic along with Tequila Lime Chicken with Mango Salsa.