Lemon Poppyseed Dressing + Winter Romaine Salad

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Homemade Lemon Poppyseed Dressing goes great on any salad, but you’ll especially love it on this winter romaine salad. The dressing has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

I know some people think salads are a spring and summer thing, but honestly, I enjoy them year round. And this homemade poppyseed dressing is one of my favorite ways to top a salad. 

Today I’m going to introduce you to my winter salad. And of course, it doesn’t have to be winter to make it. I’ve eaten tons of salads over the years and this version remains a favorite.  

A chef friend from Cambodian Heritage Camp shared the recipe with me. It’s the same place I found the BEST Blueberry Boy Bait recipe. Both are absolutely delicious and your family will love them. Be prepared to put both recipes on repeat! 

If you are looking for more easy homemade dressings, give my Creamy House Dressing a try – it’s amazing.

Ingredients for Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

Sugar – you can use granulated sugar or coconut sugar

Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice tastes best here. If I’m out of lemons, I use Italian Garden lemon juice – it’s in the produce section. Just (please!) don’t use lemon juice in the green bottle.

Oil – I’ve only tested the dressing recipe with sunflower and canola oils, but I’m sure you could use vegetable oil if that’s what you have on hand.

Sweet Onions – look for Vidalias

Salt 

Poppy Seeds 

Dijon Mustard 

Building the Winter Salad 

As I mentioned before, the winter salad is good year-round. Feel free to add more veggies if you like. 

Romaine lettuce – you could also swap for a spring mix or baby spinach.

Sunflower Seeds – Use plain or lightly salted, your preference. You could swap these out for chow mein noodles.

Pear – use your favorite red, green or Asian. Firmer fruit works best. Apples are an easy substitute.

Dried Cranberries 

Romano cheese – grab a wedge from the deli and shred it at home. Freshly shredded cheese is worth the effort – it’s so flavorful and doesn’t contain the additives you’ll find in pre-shredded cheeses. If you don’t like Romano, swap for Swiss or white cheddar. 

Making Homemade Lemon Poppyseed Dressing 

While you can hand mix all of the dressing ingredients, I suggest throwing them into the blender or using an immersion blender. Blend longer if you prefer a smoother dressing.

You can toss the salad in the dressing right before serving, but do so gradually because you may not need all of the dressing. You can also serve poppyseed dressing on the side or in ramekins so your guests can dress their own salads.

Making Winter Salad Ahead of Time 

If you want to prepare the salad ahead of time, by all means, do so. Store the ingredients separately and combine just before serving. To avoid soggy greens, hold off adding the dressing until it’s time to serve.

Storing Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

If you have leftovers or want to make a bigger batch to save for later, it lasts about 1 week in the refrigerator.

How To Make the Dressing Creamier 

Want to make the poppyseed dressing creamier? Just add a little bit of mayo or milk before blending.

As a lighter option, you can try adding Greek yogurt. Add the yogurt in small increments and taste along the way until you have it perfect to your liking. 

More Salad Recipes You’ll Love:

• Broccoli Salad 
• Chicken Cobb Salad 
• Zesty Italian Pasta Salad 
• Bok Choy Salad 
• 6 Ingredient Fiesta Salad 
• Easy Vegetable Salad

**Pin the Lemon Poppyseed Dressing Recipe for Later**