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Brighten up your salads with a homemade poppy seed dressing that’s tangy, sweet, and easy to make.
Poppy seed dressing is a slightly creamy vinaigrette that strikes the perfect balance between tangy and sweet flavors, with a delightful nutty crunch from the seeds. It pairs nicely with simple mixed greens or more elaborate salads featuring fruits and nuts—spinach, strawberries, and almonds being a classic combination. Granted, those pesky poppy seeds have a way of getting lodged between your teeth (especially as we get older—ah, the joys of aging!), but the delicious taste of this dressing is well worth it. The best part? Preparing your own poppy seed dressing is incredibly easy, and you likely already have the necessary ingredients in your pantry. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or just looking to liven up your weekday salads, this dressing is a must-have addition to your recipe box.
What You’ll Need To Make Poppy Seed Dressing
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a medium bowl, combine the honey, mustard, vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
Whisk to combine.
While whisking vigorously, slowly pour in the oil to create an emulsion; the dressing should be slightly thickened and emulsified when all the oil is added. If you see pools of oil forming on the top while you’re adding it, stop for a moment and whisk to emulsify before continuing.
Add the shallots and poppy seeds.
Stir to combine.
Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Store the vinaigrette in a jar at room temperature for up to 4 days, or up to a week in the refrigerator. Shake to re-emulsify when ready to use.
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Poppy Seed Dressing
Brighten up your salads with a homemade poppy seed dressing that’s tangy, sweet, and easy to make.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann’s or Duke’s
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1½ tablespoons minced shallots, from 1 shallot
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, mustard, vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. While whisking vigorously, slowly pour in the oil to create an emulsion; the dressing should be slightly thickened and emulsified when all the oil is added. If you see pools of oil forming on the top while you’re adding it, stop for a moment and whisk to emulsify before continuing. Mix in the shallots and poppy seeds. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The dressing can be stored in a jar at room temperature for up to 4 days, or up to a week in the refrigerator. Shake to re-emulsify when ready to use.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (8 servings)
- Serving size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 171
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Sugar: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Sodium: 86 mg
- Cholesterol: 1 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.