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Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

6 reviews / 4.2 average

I’m going salad crazy.

After living in the Philippines for a year, where it’s easy to forget about things like fresh spinach and arugula, where salads are usually the culprit for any and all stomach sickness, and where the Chopped Thai Chicken Salad happened out of pure necessity (okayyy that was a definite exception), I am welcoming Salad back into my life with open arms.

Now that we’re home, I’ve been treated to a few REALLY good salads: a restaurant BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad, a Chipotle burrito bol “salad”, and my Mom’s cabbage-almond slaw salad. And then naturally, there have been a few forgettable ones that usually compliment a meal like frozen pizza. I think you know the kind.

Poppy seeds and liquid in a measuring cup.

But the salad that I’ve been eating lately? It’s the ultimate winner. It has Summer 2013 written all over it, and no I would not be sad if I had to eat it every day until September. Yes, I’m still talking about salad, the green thing with healthy stuff.

It’s filled with fruit, protein, greens, nuts, plus it’s totally gorgeous, aaaand it’s smothered in homemade poppy seed dressing. It’s a Chicken and Nectarine Poppy Seed Salad, so in preparation for that rainbow of glory, I’m giving you the poppy seed dressing recipe today. Like how I planned ahead on that one? Mmhm.

What I like about it:

  1. It’s easy.
  2. It uses simple ingredients.
  3. It’s lower in calories and fat than the store bought stuff.
  4. It is spoon-lickably good.
  5. Bam.
Poppy seed dressing on a salad.
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Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.2 from 6 reviews

Description

This homemade poppy seed dressing recipe uses simple ingredients and hardly takes any time to make!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons chopped shallot
  • 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • 3 tablespoons Greek vanilla or plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon semi-sweet white wine (optional)
  • 1/2 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 tablespoon water
  • 23 tablespoons poppy seeds

Instructions

  1. Saute the shallot in the butter over medium low heat for 5-10 minutes or until the shallot is very soft and fragrant.
  2. In a food processor, place the yogurt, mayonnaise, olive oil, wine, vinegar, sugar, and the sauteed shallots. Puree until smooth. Taste and adjust as necessary. Add the water to adjust the consistency if it needs to be thinned. Stir in the poppy seeds and just like that, you’re good to go! Don’t forget to keep it refrigerated.

Notes

Makes about 1 cup of dressing. Nutrition information is for one serving (about 3 tablespoons).

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Blend
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: poppyseed dressing, homemade poppyseed dressing, homemade salad dressing

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40 Comments

  1. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I’m so happy you are able to enjoy salads again!! I’ve been obsessed with poppyseed dressing lately since I started picking up this superfood kale salad mix at Costco the last few times, not enough dressing included in my opinion 🙂
    Can’t wait to make your homemade recipe!

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Thats EXACTLY what I need it for!!!! The kale salad from costco is great, but not nearly enough dressing!! I’ve tried other favors of dressing on it, but the poppyseed is the perfect match!

  2. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Time to bust out the cute homemade dressing jar with the measures right on it that we got as a wedding gift. Yay for poppyseeds. They are just so little and fun. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s big reveal!

  3. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Salads really are the best, aren’t they? I’ve been experimenting with different vinaigrettes lately, but no poppy seeds dressing yet. This is definitely going on the list of things to try!

  4. Pinch of Yum Logo

    no way! i was just thinking TODAY that i should make poppyseed chicken. i’m vegeterian actually but taking dinner to a friend and thought that sounded good. i love your blog and have tried TONS of your recipes! keep up the great work!

  5. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Love poppy seed dressing. Usually I buy Marie’s. 🙂 I am going to give this a whirl. Thanks!

  6. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Just yesterday, I was searching for THIS salad. Seriously. The one that screams Summer 2013! I will be back to find what the actual salad recipe is, but for now is so excited for at least the dressing. LOVE the natural ingredients blended into something that looks so beautifully delicious! Can’t wait to enjoy this salad, and so happy you get to enjoy them again too!

  7. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Wonderful salad dressing. I was looking for a poppy seed dressing for a spinach salad – this was perfect. I halved the ingredients as there are just two of us but forgot to halve the mustard. I used grainy dijon and was very happy with my mistake. :)Thanks so much for posting – it will definitely be one of our standards!

  8. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I’ve been looking for a recipe for poppyseed dressing! This one sounds amazing. I want to try to make it paleo by dropping the yogurt and using coconut sugar. Is there something I could use besides yogurt? Coconut milk I. Some form?

  9. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Loved it! Just made it and it’s waiting in the fridge for dinner. For all those trying to reduce sugar consumption and move towards natural sugars, i found that adding 4 dried apricots in place of the refined sugar was enough to add a balance of sweetness (though probably not as much as refined sugar would add). Thanks for the recipe!

  10. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hi Lindsay!
    I’ve been stalking you for the last 6 weeks or so and am totally in love with your blog! The healthy portion is exactly what I’ve been needing for creating those nutritious yet tasty meals for my family. 2 questions about the dressing:
    cider vinegar seems hard to find…. is that similar to rice vinegar?
    olive oil mayonnaise – what would happen if I substituted regular mayonnaise or even miracle whip?
    Thanks!

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      I’ve found cider vinegar at most grocery stores, but you could always just use white distilled vinegar as well. I think I would opt for regular mayo over Miracle Whip – it has such a distinct flavor and I’m not sure you’d want that.

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        Thanks! Turns out, my grocery store had just been out of cider vinegar for the last 6 months! Finally got some in though – gotta love the rural life 🙂

          1. Pinch of Yum Logo

            just made this dressing again, except I added a cup of frozen raspberries to the mix. Ba-da-boom! Raspberry poppy seed dressing. Gorgeous and delicious. Bonus: my husband will actually eat salad for supper with this dressing (and chicken of course) 🙂

  11. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Lindsay! I want to let you know that I made your homemade poppy seed dressing today. It’s incredible! Tastiest dressing I’ve had in a long, long time. Never buying it from the store again! Thanks for sharing this recipe – Kevin loved it too.

  12. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hi! This recipe looks awesome – I’m going to make it tonight because I feel like I spend half my paycheck on Brianna’s at the rate I go through it!

    One question though – how long would you say this will last in the fridge?

    Thanks so much!
    Love the blog!
    Megan

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      I would give it three-five days. It depends on your tolerance for leftovers, but IMO with a good shake or stir it should be fine.

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      These are approximate because type of yogurt, mayo used will change if you use low-fat or full fat versions and whether you use wine or not (not included in this calculation).

      Per tablespoon; Calories 32.5 | Fat 2.57g | Carbs .95g |Protein 0.11g

  13. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Didn’t like the dressing. Made it to go on the nectarine blueberry chicken spinach almond salad. I tasted the mayo too much. Wouldn’t make this one again.