With my Lemon Poppy Seed Salad Dressing you’re just 5 everyday ingredients away from my best secret weapon in the kitchen – this lemon vinaigrette wakes up almost anything with a blast of lemon flavor!
lemon poppy seed dressing is super versatile
Not many salad dressings merit a post of their very own, but this one is special. Lemon is king here in tvfgi kitchen…I use it in sweet and savory recipes, and squeeze it in, or on, probably 75% of things I make, in fact I use lemon like other people use salt!
When I have this dressing in the refrigerator I’m so much more likely to make a salad, so it’s the first thing I do whenever I want to drop a few pounds, or just eat healthier. And I don’t stick to plain old greens, either — this is great with couscous or quinoa, and it makes an amazing potato salad or 7- bean salad, too. Lemon poppy seed appeals to most people, so it’s a natural choice for entertaining, and the creamy yellow color is so pretty I like to show it off in a cruet or mason jar on the table.
what you’ll need for lemon poppy seed dressing
- olive oil ~ this is when you want to pull out the good stuff: use extra virgin.
- lemon juice ~ absolutely positively has to be fresh.
- mustard ~ the kind is up to you, I use a creamy Dijon.
- honey ~ brings a touch of sweetness to the dressing.
- poppy seeds ~ they’re so pretty and provide quite a crunch.
let’s make it
This vinaigrette takes just a minute to mix up and I know you’ll find endless ways to use it.
- Put everything into a jar and blend with an immersion blender.
- Taste to adjust any of the ingredients to your liking.
pro tips for using lemons
Fresh lemons can be pricey, so to get the most juice from your fruit, roll them firmly on the counter, and then microwave them for 30 seconds. Cut in half and use a simple lemon juicer like the one above. You won’t miss out on one precious drop! (This is especially useful with limes)
The best way to store lemons is not on the counter, but sealed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. They’ll keep up to a month that way.
Lemon juice can be frozen for later use. Fill an ice cube tray with fresh squeezed juice and freeze. Then pop the cubes into a zip lock freezer bag. They’ll stay fresh for months.
lemon + poppy seeds = delish!
- Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Poppy Seed Frosting
- Why we love lemon poppy seed everything!
- Lemon Poppy Seed Zucchini Bread
- Easy One Bowl Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
- Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes
Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp mustard
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
Instructions
- Put everything into a jar and blend with an immersion blender, or shake vigorously. You can also use a food processor or a blender to get a good emulsion, too, but an immersion blender is the easiest. Taste to adjust any of the ingredients.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Use this same formula with other citrus like pink grapefruit, lime, orange, or blood orange.
- Add 1/4 cup of buttermilk or sour cream to this recipe for a creamy lemon poppy seed dressing.
Nutrition
can i buy this anywhere … I can not find lemon poppy seed dressing. It is in the Lemon Kale Chopped Salad Mix and it’s so good. Has anyone ever found it already made?
This weekend my husband and I had lunch out and I ordered a salad and had lemon poppy seed dressing and was amazing. So I wanted try to make some at home and I used your recipe. This does not have the same taste – what I made at home is more tangy – for a lack of a better word. I followed the recipe – would the mustard be over powering the flavor? I added more honey and more olive oil and it is a little better. I put in the crib to let it sit for a bit. Sadly I have never made home made dressing. Not sure what else I can do to enhance it.
You might try even more honey or sugar, Rhonda, a lot of restaurant recipes are surprisingly sweet. And definitely reduce the mustard if the taste is too strong for you. Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be to try to try to recreate a wonderful flavor you had at a restaurant, that’s how lots of my recipes come about, actually!
Hi Sue,
Thank you for the recipe. But I have a question, can I use Dijon mustard? Or what kind of mustard do you use?
Thank you so much!
Hi Pent ~ I use Dijon mustard a lot, I keep both the creamy and the grainy type on hand, and either will work!
Poppyseeds in general are one of my favorites. I like it. Thanks for your post
Oh wow, I learned so much about lemons today from the Citrus Queen! I didn’t know you should microwave them and I always store mine on the counter. That’s changing today because food is almost 40% more expensive here in Canada and I’m paying a fortune for my lemons and limes (99 cents each!)
I can’t wait to try this 🙂
My lemon tree is drying up in the current drought, Robyn, so we’re all paying way too much for citrus 🙂
Such a great dressing, Sue! I want to spoon this over everything!
This dressing sounds fantastic Sue and it’s also so pretty to look at. Poppy seeds are so appealing and add a fancy touch!
To clarify, do you use mustard powder or the condiment? Thanks!
I use the condiment, Rachel.
Good to know about the best way to store lemons. We buy them in bulk because it’s usually the cheapest option and they always spoil before we use them all.
This dressing looks delicious!
Lemons are so pricey these days I really need them to last!
Thanks Sue!