Poppy Seed Salad Dressing Recipe

Name: Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup olive oil; 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon poppy seeds; 2 teaspoons dijon mustard; dash salt

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If you have always thought making your own dressings is just too hard, let this recipe prove you wrong. I love this Poppy Seed Salad Dressing Recipe change your mind. It can be made in under 5 minutes and with only 6 ingredients!

What Makes This Vinaigrette So Good?

The balsamic and poppy seeds are a combination you will love. I made this dressing several years ago, and since that time it has quickly become one of our favorite salad dressings. It is so good!! This creamy dressing is definitely in my top 3 favorite dressings.

With homemade dressings, you always know what is in them. No ingredients you cannot pronounce, just good healthy options!

Homemade salad dressing is easy to customize. I am going to share the measurements I use, but just know, these are variables, make this dressing to your specific taste.

You can use this on a variety of salads, strawberry spinach salad is a popular one. I also like it on a kale salad or even fruit salad. Try it out!

This is a simple recipe to make. It usually takes me 5 minutes, if I am taking my time! With only a handful of ingredients, you will have an amazing recipe fast!

Store this in an airtight container and it will last at least 2 weeks!

Poppy Seed Salad Dressing in a glass jar with balsamic vinegar and poppy seeds in the background.

Ingredients

Olive oil- good olive oil is always the base in vinaigrettes. You can also use vegetable oil, but I prefer olive oil.
Balsamic vinegar- I used dark balsamic vinegar in my dressing, but you can also use white balsamic if you like.
Poppy seeds- what would poppy seed dressing be without poppy seeds?
Pure Maple Syrup- no that maple flavored syrup will not work!
Dijon Mustard- This is used not just for flavor, but also as an emulsifier. That means it keeps the oil and vinegar from separating. You can also use dry mustard, but I prefer the dijon.
Salt and pepper- you will adjust these according to taste.

How To Make

Let me show you just how easy this homemade dressing recipe is to make!

I like to mix my dressing in a mason jar. Top it with the lid and give it a good shake. You can also make it in a food processor or a small bowl with a whisk. It is up to you. I think the jar is the easiest.

Add all your ingredients to the jar and give it a good shake. With the honey, this might take a minute or so.

Next, taste for flavor. Everyone has different dressing tastes, so adjust as needed. If you like a sweet flavor to your dressing, only add in a touch of salt. If you like the sweet/salty flavor as I do, you might want to add a little more.

A little salt will go a long way though, so don't add too much, to begin with. The flavor of the dressing will change quite a bit depending on how much honey and salt you add.

Woman pouring balsamic vinegar into a glass jar.

Woman holding a jar of poppyseed balsamic dressing in a mason jar.

Ways To Use This Dressing

Salad is my favorite way. Let me share a few ideas for creating an awesome salad that lets this dressing show off. As noted above, this is a really popular dressing for spinach strawberry salad.

Let's start with the greens- Fresh greens that are not wilted is the most important tip. You can use red or green leafy greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, kale, etc.

Then you can add in fruits or vegetables, or both. I love grapes, apples, fruit. I also love cucumbers, carrots, celery, and red onions.

On my salads, nuts and seeds are a must. Pecans are one of my favorite seeds, but walnuts and hazelnuts are delicious too. Pepitas, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds are great as well.

In our house, salads are hardly a salad without cheese. Goat cheese, blue cheese, or feta cheese are my top 2, but you can also use cheddar or a gouda if you like.

Whatever salad you choose to make, drizzle it generously with this simple salad dressing!

These salads make a great main dish or even side salad. We use them both ways.

Woman pouring poppy seed salad dressing recipe over a kale salad.

FAQ

There are so many types of balsamic vinegar, how do I choose?

If you have a taproom near you, I would recommend checking them out first. If not, check your local grocery store. Even Walmart has brands I really like.

What other sweeteners can I use?

If you are vegan, granulated sugar or even maple syrup are a great option. Sucanat is another sweetener some people use. I prefer a liquid sweetener to granular for this vinaigrette.

Is balsamic even vinegar?

Technically, no. Real vinegar comes from fermented alcohol. Balsamic comes from grapes that have been boiled down and reduced. But, it is still called balsamic vinegar?

Salad and Dressing Ideas

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