Mixed Green Salad with Sweet Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
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Our Mixed Green Salad is full of flavors and textures. Crisp lettuce is mixed with craisins, nuts, and a delicious sweet creamy poppyseed dressing. Perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, and barbeques.
Let me show you just how we make it and the substitutions you can make so it’s a favorite in your household too.
When my son comes home I always have to have our Mixed Green Salad with Sweet Poppyseed Dressing in large supply. When he’s hungry this salad is the first thing he grabs by the bucket load. I guess he didn’t inherit my ice cream gene!
Several years ago when our family would all get together for the holidays, we would always request that my mother-in-law bring “her” salad. She just put everything in ziplock bags and the dressing in a jar. It all went into one bowl right before we ate it. The bowl always emptied too quickly! She’s now in her 90s and the salad gauntlet has been passed to us youngsters!
Ingredients, Substitutions, & Variations
Simple Green Salad
We used Green Leaf lettuce. It holds up well after being dressed. It’s tender without being too soft. You can buy mixed green lettuce already prepared. Or, swap the lettuce for spinach, kale, arugula, or any mixed greens you have.
Craisins (dried cranberries) add sweetness to our salad and allow us to serve it any time of year. You can add dried fruit like apricots or raisins. Use whatever fruits are in season – strawberries or blueberries in summer, apples, and pears in fall.
Fresh veggies add a crunch and flavor. We often use bell peppers, cucumbers, and cherry or grape tomatoes. Use what you like and what’s in season.
Chopped cashew nuts are a favorite of ours. You can use any chopped nut or replace them with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or your favorite crushed crackers for nut allergies.
Creamy Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
Our sweet poppyseed dressing is perfect as is. The only change we make is using less sugar than what’s called for.
Fresh lemon cuts some of the sweetness. We don’t recommend using bottled lemon juice.
Green onion might sound odd but it really makes this recipe for poppyseed dressing. Slice the whites and greens thinly so they pour through your curette if using one.
Dijon mustard has a smooth flavor and helps emulsify our dressing when we shake or stir it before using it. We don’t recommend using yellow mustard or a stronger stoneground mustard.
Additional Variations
Everyone loves cheese! Try feta, goat cheese, or parmesan.
Turn it into a meal by adding grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, or chickpeas.
Don’t forget to make some homemade croutons!
Storage Recommendations
How long does homemade poppyseed dressing last?
Homemade poppyseed dressing lasts for 5 to 7 days when stored in a leakproof container in the refrigerator.
Can you make poppyseed salad ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead salad recipe. The dressing can be made several days ahead of when you need it. Chop fresh ingredients closer to when you’ll be serving it. Nuts and dried fruit can be chopped and stored in a small container or ziplock bag at room temperature.
Hostess Tips:
- Serve the easy poppyseed dressing on the side so everyone can add as much as they like.
- For a party, put the salad in a pretty clear bowl so people can see all the colorful ingredients.
- Use as a bed for grilled chicken or fish to make it a complete meal.
- Make it the star by serving in individual bowls as a first course.
- Preparing and storing the ingredients separately makes this salad easy to take with you.
Serving Suggestions
This mixed green salad would pair wonderfully with many dishes! Here are some simple serving suggestions: Thai Chicken Sandwich, Baked Blackened Salmon, and Meatloaf.
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Mixed Green Salad with Sweet Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
Dressing
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 3 green onions chopped (white and green parts)
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
- ⅔ cups vegetable oil
Salad
- Lettuce greens of your choice torn to bite size
- 1 cup cashews lightly chopped
- 1 cup craisins
- 6 cherry tomatoes cut in half
Instructions
- Combine dressing ingredients and mix well. Right before serving, combine salad ingredients and drizzle with dressing. Reserve any extra dressing in the refrigerator for future use.
Notes
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
It’s not that she never wanted to share her recipe but we just never asked for it. You know how it wouldn’t be the same if Grandma didn’t bring her salad? We’ve gotten past that and now she enjoys it at our table and we enjoy it a lot more often.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!
Our mixed green salad is the best salad for family gatherings and makes a quick salad recipe for weeknight dinners. Other favorite salads include our Green Salad with Figs, Apple Pear Salad, and our Chicken Pear Salad.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!
This simple Poppyseed Salad recipe was first published on July 5, 2017. It has been updated to make it better for our readers. No changes were made to the actual recipe.
This is going to be my go to dressing! It is so good and everyone loved it. I’ve made it twice in one week. So refreshing.
This is our favorite salad dressing as is requested by our company when they are in for the holidays
This salad looks so tasty! 🙂
Thank you Pamela! It is very tasty and so easy to make.
I love green salads too Julie and poppy seed dressing is a favorite! Thank you for sharing – I would save a cup of that dressing for myself too 🙂
Thank you so much, Sandhya! It is definitely all about the dressing!
I adore the combination of fruit, crisp greens, and a tangy dressing. Lovely salad.
Thank you, Liz! I can eat salad every day of the week especially in this heat!
What a lovely refreshing salad Julie. And you’re right, I’d probably drink the dressing in a cup. It all looks and sounds wonderful put together like that. I hope you and your family had a wonderful July 4th holiday 🙂
I love a green salad and especially enjoy homemade dressings. Poppyseed is a favorite especially with homemade croutons. I need to add more dried fruit to my salads and for now all I have are dried cherries, oh and dried currants.
I’m with you Judi, I love all of the goodies mixed in. No plain salad for me and I’m enjoying it tonight with some leftover grilled chicken.