Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

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This lemon poppy seed dressing is bursting with citrusy deliciousness and packs in a wonderful texture. All it takes is a few ingredients and minutes of your time to put this versatile and flavorful salad dressing together.

Plus, you can make it in a big batch and refrigerate it for weeks- the perfect alternative to your store-bought salad dressings!

While I am a big salad person, I'm not so fond of salad dressings in general. My inclination has always been towards using dry rubs and seasonings to spice up my boring salads, and that's exactly why, my pantry almost always has my favorite jalapeno salt and garlic parsley salt.

And on days when I'm just in the mood for a bit extra, I use my habanero oil. But there's a first time for everything right? And that's how I whipped up this insanely gorgeous and addictive salad dressing.

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What's So Great About the Recipe?
Ingredients For the Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe
Substitutions & Variations
How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
💭Top Tip
How to Store the Leftover Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
How to Use Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
Recipe FAQs
Related Recipes

What's So Great About the Recipe?

The herby and tangy deliciousness of this salad dressing is what I love the most about it. It isn't too overpowering in any sense and has just the right flavors to complement any and every simple salad.

And of course, the fact that it is SO easy to make!

Ingredients For the Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe

Lemon juice: This one's truly the hero ingredient here. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for best results.

Honey: To add just a teeny bit of sweetness to the dressing.

Poppy seeds: I used black poppy seeds for that crunch and the beautiful color they lend to the dressing.

Onion flakes: For an added bit of texture and flavor.

Garlic powder: For the savory deliciousness. Use minced garlic as an alternative if you have it at hand.

Olive oil: I would highly recommend using extra virgin olive oil here. The flavor is just out of the world!

Salt and pepper: To season.

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions & Variations

To lend the lemon poppy seed dressing some extra citrusy tang, add lemon zest in addition to the lemon juice.
Don't have lemon juice? Use lime juice, pink grapefruit, or orange juice to try different flavor variations of this dressing.
You can also add chopped fresh herbs into the dressing to bring in a nice pop of color. Basil, chives, and parsley are great choices.

How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, and honey.

Step 2: Next, add the rest of the ingredients.

Step 3: Mix well.

Step 4: Drizzle over your favorite salad.

💭Top Tip

Remember to refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes before you use it. Give it a little time for the flavors to develop and meld together nicely.

How to Store the Leftover Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Made this in a big batch? You can easily refrigerate it for up to 3 weeks, if not longer. Simply transfer it to a clean glass jar or bottle, and pop it in the fridge. Remember to shake it well before using it.

Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe

To lend the salad dressing a bit more flavor, add a teaspoon of yellow mustard into the mix.
Use a whisk to combine all the ingredients nicely. You can also use an immersion blender if you want to.
To get the most juice out of your lemons, roll them on the kitchen counter for a minute before you cut them, and then microwave them for a few seconds. Then, cut in half and use a lemon squeezer to get out every single drop.
To make this salad dressing a bit creamy, add a spoonful of sour cream or buttermilk into the mix and blend.

How to Use Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

This tangy lemon poppy seed dressing can jazz up almost any fresh salad. I love drizzling it over my salads that have a lot of greens in particular- like arugula, lettuce, and spring greens.

Add in some crunchy veggies like carrots, bell peppers, onions, and cucumbers, and finish it up with some protein like beans, chicken, or tofu. And there you have it! An insanely delicious salad that you'll find yourself making again and again.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use packaged lemon juice for the recipe?

Yes, you can. It certainly can be convenient, but there's nothing that beats the taste and flavor of fresh lemon juice.

Can I use white poppy seeds instead of the black ones?

You certainly can! Black poppy seeds have a much better color contrast- the flavor still remains the same though.

If you tried this Lemon poppy seed dressing or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

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