Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing is a light, tangy, and subtly sweet dressing that adds a refreshing touch to any salad. Made with simple ingredients like olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey, this dressing has a perfect balance with the delicate crunch of poppy seeds.
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Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing
It's salad season and I absolutely love a great salad with homemade versions of salad dressings. Some store-bought dressings are okay, but after learning to make homemade dressings, I rarely buy or enjoy store-bought salad dressings.
To date, I've made Ranch Dressing (my favorite salad dressing), Blue Cheese Dressing, and Sweet and Sour Dressing. Today I'm sharing my newest obsession: Poppyseed Dressing.
This recipe is versatile, complementing everything from fresh fruit salads to mixed greens and roasted vegetables. Whether you’re drizzling it over a bright spinach salad or using it as a dip, homemade poppy seed dressing is a great thing to have handy in your fridge!
My favorite combination: Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing.
What is Poppy Seed Dressing?
Poppy seed dressing is a creamy, slightly sweet salad dressing made with ingredients like vinegar (often apple cider or white wine vinegar), oil (such as olive or vegetable oil), sweetener (like honey or sugar), Dijon mustard, salt, and, of course, poppy seeds.
The dressing is a simple vinaigrette with a smooth, tangy flavor with a hint of sweetness and a slight crunch from the poppy seeds. It’s commonly used on a fruit salad, fresh green salad, or even coleslaw and pairs especially well with salads featuring fresh berries, apples, or nuts.
Why You'll Love Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
- Sweet and Tangy Flavor – The perfect balance of acidity from vinegar and sweetness from honey or sugar makes for a perfectly tangy poppy seed dressing with sweet notes.
- Creamy Yet Light – Smooth texture without being heavy, making it great for salads.
- Versatile – Pairs well with fruit salads, green salads, slaws, and even grilled veggies.
- Quick and Easy to Make – Just a few ingredients whisked together for a homemade recipe.
- Unique Texture – Poppy seeds add a little bit of crunch to every bite.
- Customizable – I do have exact amounts of ingredients below, but homemade salad dressings are the best because you can adjust the sweetness or acidity to suit your taste preferences. You can also make a creamy version - see notes below!
Tools Needed
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- OR Mason Jar with Lid
Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients
Local grocery stores will have everything you need to make this recipe for poppy seed dressing.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Honey
Olive Oil
Poppy Seeds
Dijon Mustard
Salt
Pepper
Find the complete recipe with ingredients measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions
Apple Cider Vinegar. Lemon juice would be a great acidic substitution and would change the flavor profile to be a Lemon Poppy Seed dressing. You might also use red wine vinegar, white vinegar or white wine vinegar.
Honey. Maple Syrup would be a great vegan substitution or you could also use white sugar.
Olive Oil. Canola oil or vegetable oil could be substituted here but I prefer the flavor of olive oil.
How to Make Poppy Seed Dressing
This sweet poppy seed dressing recipe is easy to make and only takes 5 minutes!
- In a medium bowl combine the apple cider vinegar, honey, olive oil, poppy seeds, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper and whisk until fully combined.
- You can also place the ingredients in a mason jar with a tight lid and give it a good shake to combine if you’d like.
- Enjoy immediately over a fresh salad.
How to Make Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
To make a creamy poppyseed dressing, follow the recipe as written above, except add ½ cup of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt to the ingredients. Mix it in or shake it with the other ingredients for a delicious creamy dressing.
Serving Suggestions
- Strawberry Spinach Salad (click here for the salad recipe)
- Vegetable Salad
- Plain Fresh Greens
- Cucumber Salad
- Fruit Salad or Fruit Bowls
- Kale Salad
- Chicken Salads
Storage Directions
Store any leftover yummy dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
FAQ
This tangy dressing is super versatile and could be served with many different salads. It is both sweet and tangy in flavor which pairs well with many different dishes. It goes great with any salads that include fruit, or just a mixed greens salad as well. It would be great over chicken or turkey, with coleslaw, vegetables, or fruit on its own.
It can be a healthy choice, especially when made with healthy oils like olive oil. However, store bought versions can be high in sugar, so if you’re watching your sugar intake, it’s a good idea to follow this recipe using honey as the sweetener instead of sugar.
Yes, this dressing can be made vegan by using plant-based ingredients like maple syrup instead of honey and ensuring the mustard is vegan-friendly.
Poppyseed dressing is usually sweet, tangy, and creamy with a hint of nuttiness from the poppy seeds. It often has a slightly tart flavor from vinegar or lemon juice balanced by sweetness from sugar or honey.
The creamy version is smooth and velvety, while the vinaigrette version is lighter and a bit more acidic. The poppy seeds themselves don’t have a strong taste but add a subtle crunch and a mild, nutty flavor.
It’s great on fruity salads, like those with strawberries, mandarin oranges, or apples, and pairs well with spinach or mixed greens.
Yes, this recipe is gluten-free. However, some store-bought versions might contain additives, thickeners, or flavorings that include gluten.
More Delicious Recipes
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Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Homemade poppy seed dressing is a light, tangy, and subtly sweet dressing that adds a refreshing touch to any salad. Made with simple ingredients like olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey, this dressing has a perfect balance with the delicate crunch of poppy seeds.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine the apple cider vinegar, honey, olive oil, poppy seeds, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper and whisk until fully combined.
- You can also place the ingredients in a mason jar with a tight lid and shake to combine if you’d like.
- Enjoy on this Spinach Strawberry Feta Salad or any other salad you like!
Notes
- How to store: store leftover dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- What is this dressing best served with? This dressing is super versatile and could be served with many different salads. It is both sweet and tangy in flavor which pairs well with many different dishes. It goes great with any salads that include fruit, or just a mixed greens salad as well. It would be great over chicken or turkey, with coleslaw, vegetables, or fruit on its own.
- Is poppy seed dressing healthy? Poppy seed dressing can be a healthy choice, especially when made with healthy oils like olive oil. However, store bought versions can be high in sugar, so if you’re watching your sugar intake, it’s a good idea to follow this recipe using honey as the sweetener instead of sugar.
- Can poppy seed dressing be made vegan? Yes, poppy seed dressing can be made vegan by using plant-based ingredients like maple syrup instead of honey and ensuring the mustard is vegan-friendly.
- Prep Time: 5
Esme Slabbert
Love poppy seed dressing, so will try this one
Saw your awesome post at Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party.
My entries are 19+20
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