A poppy seed dressing recipe that is ready in 5 minutes and turns out perfectly creamy and not overly sweet! This homemade salad dressing recipe is my kids favorite and I love it over a great strawberry and spinach salad as well. If you’ve been on the search for a homemade dressing recipe, this one won’t disappoint.
Now that summer is just a few days away, it is time for my favorite types of salads….greens, berries, nuts, and cheese! There are a million different versions out there and you can make them any way that fits your favorite flavor profile, but you MUST have an amazing poppy seed dressing recipe. It’s the law.
So many versions of this homemade dressing have so much sugar in them that it actually settles to the bottom of your container and is difficult to keep the dressing emulsified. Plus, it tastes like I dressed my salad in syrup! My poppyseed dressing recipe uses just enough agave nectar for the sweetness you need without becoming overpowering. Plus the agave stays perfectly emulsified in the dressing.
This is definitely one recipe you will want a blender for but you could also make a food processor work if you don’t have a blender, however your dressing will have a bit more texture from the onion not being fully liquified like it would in a blender. No matter which tool you use, the key to a creamy dressing is to S-L-O-W-L-Y add the olive oil at the end. Just let it drizzle in over a couple minutes. If you rush it, your dressing will separate, which isn’t the end of the world but makes it a bit of a hassle when it comes time to use it.
What type of salad should you use this dressing on? Here is my formula:
- Some type of green: spinach, spring mix, romaine, or any other combo you love
- Some type of berry or fruit: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, mango
- Some type of toasted nut: almonds, pine nuts, pecans
- Some type of salty cheese: feta, parmesan, goat, blue
- Optional additions: avocado, chicken, or steak
The key is to use what YOU love in the salad portion and know that this homemade poppy seed dressing recipe will carry you to salad heaven!
Looking for more amazing salad dressing recipes? Check out my Healthy Avocado Salad Dressing recipe as well!
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Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
A quick and delicious homemade salad dressing that lasts for weeks in the fridge!
- Total Time: 8
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Ingredients
1/2 C apple cider vinegar
1 Tb dijon mustard
1/2 small red onion
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tb poppy seeds
6 Tb agave nectar
3/4 C extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
In your blender, place all the ingredients except for the olive oil. Blend on high until everything is smooth. Reduce the blender to a medium speed and slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Don’t rush this step or you won’t end up with a creamy dressing. Store any leftover dressing in a container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dressing
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 oz
- Calories: 92
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: homemade salad dressing
Alison Ufkin says
Hi Carole, I’m at the lake and don’t have agave nectar, would honey be ok instead?
Hi Alison! Yes, honey will work but it will be a much stronger flavor and level of sweetness so you might want to use a bit less.