Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing is a light and healthy vinaigrette perfect on fresh summer salads!
Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing
I was originally introduced to poppy seed dressing at a restaurant many years ago on a spinach, strawberry and bacon salad. It was pretty darn good, but the dressing was a bit heavy and loaded with white sugar. This Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing replaces the sugar with honey and adds a fresh note of citrus from lime juice.
I used to have a serious salad dressing addiction. My side compartments on my refrigerator would be overflowing with all of the new dressings I would randomly pick up at the supermarket. I had to have a wide variety of options, which goes for just about anything in my life, not only dressings.
Then one day, I realized how truly simple it was to make your own dressing. I now only have one or two bottles of dressing in the refrigerator and instead store generous amounts of olive oil and vinegars in my pantry.
More often than not, when making a salad, I will just toss some oil, vinegar, honey and dijon together for a quick and flavorful dressing that pairs with just about any salad topping from steak and bleu cheese to chicken and cranberries. If I’m feeling adventurous I will add some pureed raspberries or perhaps some orange juice. I also like to make my own healthy version of ranch dressing by tossing together some plain nonfat Greek yogurt, ranch seasoning and a tiny bit of mayonnaise.
So naturally, I needed to make a version of one of my favorites, poppyseed dressing. The beauty of this particular dressing is it’s diversity. It is perfect on a simple bowl of mixed fruit or any spinach or lettuce salad with your favorite toppings. Whip up a batch and store refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.
Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 c. lime juiced
- 1/4 c. champagne or apple cider vinegar
- 6 Tbsp. honey
- 1/3 c. olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. water
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
- 2 Tbsp. dried onion
Instructions
- Blend all of the ingredients together and store refrigerated
Nutrition
Looking for some salad ideas to use this light and refreshing dressing?
Pat says
There is no recipe for this salad dressing! I would like to make it, but I can’t. Can you give some proportion‘s?
Danielle Green says
So sorry about that! There was a glitch with my site for a minute, but it is all updated now with the salad dressing recipe!
Ella says
Where is the recipe for citrus poppy seed salad dressing? There is an article on it but no ‘recipe ?
Danielle Green says
It has been updated with the proper recipe!
L says
My family loved it (with a few changes). Made for a “light meal”.
One daughter wanted more goat cheese and felt the cranberries made it too sweet. We all agreed just a smidge too much apple cider vinegar. And all of us are glad we didn’t put all the dressing in the salad.
With a few minor tweaks for our own taste, it will be a keeper in our family cookbook. Thanks!
** side note, we almost forgot the mustard. Tasted and too acidic. we went through the ingredients realized we forgot the mustard and it made a huge difference in taste.
Danielle Green says
I’m glad you enjoyed it with your own tweaks!
Jenn says
And you figured the nutritional info *claps*. I make a lot of my own condiments/food and putting that together to really keep track of food is tedious, to say the least lol
Shari says
Do you know if you can use chia seeds in this recipe?
Danielle Green says
Chia seeds will thicken the dressing significantly and give it kind of a tapioca texture. If you are fine with that, then you can certainly use them.
Mandy says
Is it truly only a 1/4 of a lime juiced or is the amount missing?
Danielle Green says
1/4 CUP lime juice, sorry about that typo!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Mmm I love Poppy Seed dressing but you are so right it’s just way to heavy! Love that you lightened this up!
Danielle | Krafted Koch says
Poppy seed dressing is one of the best isn’t it! It’s not every day that I actually prefer the lightened versions, but in this case I really do!