Poppy Seed Dressing

Ingredients needed

This particular poppy seed dressing recipe is more of a vinaigrette made with oil and red wine vinegar. It’s not like the creamy poppy seed dressings made with mayo or yogurt. However, for a creamy version, see the “Expert Tips” section, below. You only need these 6 common ingredients that you probably have in your pantry right now!

• Olive oil. This is going to be the base of the dressing and I would suggest using a high quality light olive oil. Avocado oil or vegetable oil will work, if preferred.
• Vinegar. I use red wine vinegar, but feel free to sub with apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar or even a fruity vinegar, like raspberry or pomegranate vinegar.
• Sugar. Use granulated sugar to give this dressing a delicious sweet flavor. You can sub with honey or maple syrup.
• Dried mustard powder. Adds just a bit of tang to the dressing and complements the sweetness of the dressing.
• Salt. A bit of salt will balance the sweet taste and enhance all of the flavors.
• Poppy seeds. You can find poppyseeds in the spice section at most grocery stores.

How to make this recipe

This poppy seed vinaigrette could not be easier to make at home. There’s simply no need for store-bought salad dressings when you have one as tasty as this! In my opinion, homemade dressings are the way to go because they always taste so much fresher, plus you get complete control over the ingredients.

Just follow a few simple steps to make this homemade dressing recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full printable recipe.

• Mix together ingredients. I like to mix my ingredients in a glass jar with a lid. Simply, add all of the ingredients into a mason or other type of jar, screw on the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Alternatively, you can whisk together the ingredients in a small bowl or jar.
• Taste. Give the mixture a taste and add any additional ingredients, like more sugar or more salt, as needed.
• Store. All done! Allow the flavors to blend at room temperature while preparing the salad. Or store your dressing in the refrigerator for later use.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

This flavorful poppy seed dressing is so versatile and delicious paired with tons of different salads. Here’s a few options we love:

• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Favorite Spinach Salad – swap the balsamic vinaigrette for this dressing.
• Sweet Kale Salad – like the bagged kind you can buy from the grocery store.
• Add it to a crunchy broccoli salad or shredded brussels sprouts salad.
• Drizzle it on vegetables, a veggie-packed quinoa salad or grain bowl.

Expert tips

• This poppy seed dressing will keep for up to 2 weeks if chilled in the refrigerator. I like to store it in a glass mason jar with a lid so that I can easily shake it up before using.
• Dressings can easily be adjusted to personal preference, so taste the dressing and adapt as needed. You may want to add a bit more sugar if you like things sweeter or a little more vinegar for more tang.
• Creamy poppyseed dressing. To make this dressing cream-based rather than oil-based, simply replace the olive oil with 1/2 cup mayo or plain Greek yogurt or a combination of the two.

Storage recommendations

Store the poppy seed salad dressing in a glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. We do not recommend freezing homemade salad dressing.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.