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You'll find yourself drizzling this delicious, sweet, tangy Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing on a zillion different kinds of salads - and lots of other things too!
When Scott and I moved to the mountains of western North Carolina last August, we were blessed with a larger house than we need for just the two of us. Over the past year, we've been delighted to be able to share it with others. The house has been well-used these past few months, with lots of family and friends visiting for overnight and weekend stays, as well as lunch and dinner get-togethers. Keeping a huge jar of this delicious Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing has been one of my secrets for throwing together easy main dish and side salads for our "Café guests".
It's also been a mainstay for Scott and I. On busy days I just pull out whatever leftovers are in the fridge, add some crisp, fresh greens and dried or fresh fruit and drizzle it all with this Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing. Voila! We have a healthy, easy, DELICIOUS meal.
How to use this Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing
There are so many different types of salad that are enhanced with this dressing. It's great with:
- baby spinach
- field greens
- arugula
- watercress
- power greens
- Bibb lettuce
- romaine
After choosing one of these greens as a base, I've paired this Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing with:
- sweet strawberries
- crunchy cucumbers,
- plump blueberries
- fresh corn
- crisp apples
- green or red grape halves
- juicy mango
- velvety avocado
- hard boiled eggs
- any kind of dried fruit
- Easy Candied Pecans
- Honey and Sea Salt Almonds
- Sweet and Spicy Roasted Pistachios
- lots more
All with fabulous results! This Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing is also wonderful drizzled over grilled chicken, shrimp, pork tenderloin and salmon.
Another thing I love about this Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing? It's ridiculously easy to make. Just throw all the ingredients in a jar and give it a good shake-shake-shake. That's it!
Scott had some fun catching the poppy seeds meandering silently through the olive oil-honey-vinegar mixture!
Café Tips for making this Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing
- Use a pint-size jar to make this dressing. Anything smaller and you'll have dressing overflowing the top.
- Ground or dry mustard is available in most grocery stores in the spice section. It's got a mild flavor and helps with emulsifying the dressing. In a pinch, use a teaspoon of good Dijon mustard.
- Poppy seeds are delicious and add a whimsical touch to salads, muffins, cake, etc. They should be stored in the freezer, however, as they can go rancid and end up tasting bitter.
- Store this Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dresing in the refrigerator when not being used. It will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.
- This recipe makes a fairly large batch of dressing. No worries though, there are lots of ways to use it (see above) and it's one of those dressings that everyone loves!
- If you measure the oil first and then use the same cup to measure the honey, the honey will slide right out of the cup.
- I like to use clear apple cider vinegar for this Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing for a pretty presentation. The cloudy (or natural) apple cider vinegar will work fine and taste good, however, it will make the dressing cloudy.
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Honey-Cider Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried (ground) mustard
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a jar (at least pint-sizeand shake well. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks in an airtight container or jar.
Nutrition
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Easy to make, and good salad dressing recipe!!
Thanks, Meri!
Wondering if you have ever made it using Extra Light vs Extra Virgin olive oil? I am getting ready to try this but wanted to see if it could be made with the extra light and still be yummy.
Hi LD, I think light oil will be fine!
YUM! YUM! YUM! One of the BEST dressings I've ever found!!!! Everyone LOVE this AND your Cranberry Clementine Salad!!!!
I could eat this ALL YEAR LONG!!!!
Thanks again!!!
Happy 2023
Awesome! Thanks for letting us know, Einie!
Thank you Chris for another amazing recipe!!! I tried this salad dressing a month ago, and am about to make it again tonight for dinner! I love your blog and all the incredible work that goes into making it so special! Thank you! 😃
Thank you for the kind comment, Meghan! So glad you enjoyed this 🙂
Thank you Cris. I do buy Heinz but it has a darker shade than Braggs. Just love this dressing. God Bless......Rita
Cheis where on earth did you find clear apple coder vinegar. I searched google and found somethin close.........Piping Rock Apple Cider Vinegar w/Mother. Hope you can help me.......Thanks Rita
Hi Rita, not sure where you live but, here is the US, most of the apple cider at regular grocery stores is clear. I purchase Heinz.
Thank you Cris. I do buy Heinz but it has a darker shade than Braggs. Just love this dressing. God Bless......Rita
I'm sorry, I misunderstood your question, Rita. When I say clear, I meant clear vs cloudy. It still has an amber hue. So sorry if that was confusing.
I can't wait to try this salad and the honey dressing. I looked through the entire post for your video on dealing with fresh corn, and couldn't find it. It was mentioned twice, so I figure I must have missed it somehow. Help!!
Hi Sylvia, the video is a little above The Café Tips on this post: https://thecafesucrefarine.com/fresh-corn-blueberry-spinach-salad/
Thanks Chris I thought so since it had the look of 50-60's. Rita
I just love your dressing bottle. Where can I purchase one??
Hi Rita, I wish I had a better answer for you but I actually purchased that at a consignment shop.
Hello, just wanted to ask you where you purchased the dressing bottle. It is so perfect for your poppy seed recipe. Thanks Rita
Loved it. I couldn't find my dry mustard so I added prepared mustard. What I really liked is all of the ingredients are readily on hand. (Except my mustard which is hiding) 😐
Haha! My stuff hides sometimes too. 😂 So happy you enjoyed it, Kathleen!
Look forward to trying this dressing recipe. But, if placed in the refrigerator to store, will the olive oil solidify? Would you then need to bring to room temperature before serv in big again?
Hi Paula, the oil does solidify when refrigerated. I just pull it out 10-15 minutes before I want to serve it and it's great!
Hi Chris,
I love the sound of this dressing. However I don’t understand why the dressing should be stored in the refrigerator. If it contains any kind of vinegar then it is safe to store in a kitchen cupboard. Almost all products purchased at grocery stores, such as Tomato Ketchup, mustard, pickles, etc state: “Once opened store in a refrigerator”. This is actually nonsense because they don’t need to take up precious refrigerator space due to having vinegar in them which acts as a preservative.
I have a second home in Europe and leave my dressings and vinegar based products for months in the cupboard and they are perfectly fine to use upon my next return, (sometimes 8 months later), although I would not store dressings with fresh ingredients such as fresh garlic or fresh herbs for that length of time though. I store them the same way at my home in Western North Carolina, even in the summer time. I have never had a problem.
With your dressing above, I would not spoil the clarity of the dressing by cooling the olive oil to a temperature which makes it cloudy, as one person commented above. The cloudiness can never be totally removed and made clear again after receiving cold treatment. This happens a lot with my olive oil which I leave in a cold house during the winter whist absent from the other home. It is never the same again.
Shelley
You're probably right, I think we do store more things in the refrigerator than needed. But my motto, especially for the blog since it's other people who might be affected, is always better to be safe than sorry.
I do find that this dressing clears right up when brought to room temperature.
Feel free to store it where ever you feel is best.
Hi Chris/Scott! -- love all the dressings I've ever tried from your site! This sounds ridiculous, but I recently lost the ability to buy my favorite extra virgin olive oil and I've tried at least six since then, without any luck. I have found without a good quality Bass nothing tastes right to me.
I don't know if you're limited in this forum to give me a favorite brand you have, if so, could you use my email to send me a personal note and let me know what you find is a quality oil that's suitable that you use. Thanks so much!
I have a quilting potluck coming up next Friday and I was going to use one of these salads / dressings, if I can only find an oil! Help me please!
SOS in San Diego!
Dory
Hi Dory, this way to late but I just saw this comment. So sorry! I really like the Tuscan EVOO from Costco. You can't always get it but when it's there, I stock up. It's delicious!
Hmmmm, just by the looks of it, that dressing looks delicious.
I truly enjoy your works and after reading your "About", all I can say is that you are so blessed in so many ways Chris , but of course, you know that 🙂 It makes me enjoy your works more and more. Thank you so very much !
Thank you so much, Davorka, for your kind and encouraging comment!
Yes, if we have Jesus we are truly blessed! Nothing else will last in the big scheme.
Amen! I just happened upon your website and I got such a good feeling being here. I cannot wait to try so many of your recipes including your shrimp and chicken curry, your many delicious salads and salad dressings...OH MY! Can’t wait. I just wanted to say that it is wonderful to find a fellow believer and I love supporting someone who gives Him the glory. No wonder I felt so comfortable and welcomed here. May the Lord continue to bless you Chris. Cheers!
Thanks so much, Holly!
So nice to "meet" you 🙂
I really appreciate your kind and encouraging words and I love that you love Jesus too!
Welcome to The Café!
🌈🤗🙏🏼
I can't wait to try this on my next salad Chris! It sounds just delicious!
Thanks, Mary Ann!
I was thinking about all the ways I could use this dressing as I was reading along - and then you shared your inspirational list! Grilled chicken and a few greens and cucumber and I'm ready for dinner. Another gorgeous dressing Chris! Pinned 🙂
Thanks so much, Tricia!
Thanks, Tricia - you were a step ahead of me! 🙂
I love all of your salad dressings, so I can't wait to try this one, too! I am a sucker for poppy seed dressings on salads. I just love what those little seeds add to the mix 🙂
Perfect dressing for my strawberry and spinach salad! Cannot wait to give it a try!
Yes, it would be delicious on a strawberry spinach salad! Thanks, Liz!
My favourite ingredients in this recipe! Thank you for the reminder!
Can I ask where you find such unique containers for your dressings? Love them all!
Thanks so much, Bonnie! Hope you enjoy the dressing!
Regarding your question about containers, I'm always on the lookout for fun and pretty containers. This particular one I found in a thrift shop. Sometimes I find them at yard sales or little home shops accessory shops or antique shops. I never pay very much for them but it's always fun to have something new and pretty!