Lemon poppy seed dressing is one of my absolute favorite salad dressings! It is easy to make with common household ingredients and it is so versatile. If you have never made a homemade lemon poppy seed dressing before then you absolutely need to try this recipe out!
This recipe for lemon poppy seed dressing is made entirely from gluten free ingredients. In addition to being gluten free it is also vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, egg free, and nut free.
What is lemon poppy seed dressing made of?
What is lemon poppy seed dressing made of? Lemon poppy seed dressing is relatively easy to make and the ingredient list is pretty straightforward. The main ingredients in lemon poppy seed dressing are as follows.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Poppy seeds
- White sugar
- Brown mustard
What oil is used in lemon poppy seed dressing?
What oil is used in lemon poppy seed dressing? This lemon poppyseed dressing is made with extra virgin olive oil. The rich taste of extra virgin olive oil mellows out the sharp acidic taste of the lemon juice. If you do not mind the taste of olive oil I would recommend always using olive oil for lemon poppy seed dressing.
If you do not like the taste of olive oil you can also make lemon poppy seed dressing with a more neutral oil such as vegetable oil or sunflower oil. I do not recommend using other strongly flavor oils like sesame oil to make lemon poppy seed dressing.
Can you use pre squeezed lemon juice?
Can you use pre squeezed lemon juice to make lemon poppy seed dressing? I recommend using freshly squeezed lemons to make lemon poppy seed dressing if at all possible. I appreciate pre-squeezed lemon juice and I do use bottled lemon juice in a lot of my other recipes. However, with this recipe the lemon flavor is really the star of the show and you really want to get that flavor right.
If you are unable to find lemons and you need to use pre-squeezed lemon juice you should keep in mind that bottled lemon juice often has a stronger flavor than freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice is generally more concentrated than freshly squeezed lemon juice and it also often contains added sugars. I would recommend starting out using only 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup of lemon juice then adding more to taste so that your lemon poppy seed dressing is not too acidic.
Ingredients that compliment lemon poppy seed dressing
What types of salads and salad ingredients pair well with lemon poppy seed dressing? This lemon poppy seed dressing is sweet and acidic. Here are some examples of flavors that go well with sweet and acidic salad dressings.
- Bitter greens. Bitter greens such as arugula pair well with lemon poppy seed dressing. The acidity of the lemon and the sweetness of the sugar serve as a nice contrast to bitter flavors.
- Sweet berries. Fresh berries such as strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries pair well with acidic dressings like this lemon poppy seed dressing. The sweeter the berry, the better it will pair with this salad dressing.
- Sweet nuts. Sweet nuts such as pecans also go well with lemon poppy seed dressing. When you are working with sharp, acidic lemon based dressings you should think of the types of nuts that are used most commonly in deserts such pecans and walnuts.
- Light, creamy cheeses. Creamy salad dressings pair well with sharp, nutty cheese like parmesan cheese. Acidic salad dressings, on the other hand pair well with light, creamy cheeses such as queso fresco.
How to store lemon poppy seed dressing
How do you store lemon poppy seed dressing? Lemon poppy seed dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The dressing should be kept in an airtight container.
I prefer to store my salad dressings in a container with a narrow opening. This makes it easier to pour the salad dressing directly from the container onto the salad. If you store your lemon poppy seed salad dressing in a container with a wider opening then you will need to use a spoon to transfer the salad dressing onto the salad.
Lemon poppy seed dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp poppy seed
- 1/2 tbsp grainy brown mustard
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Juice the lemons then combine all of the ingredients for the lemon poppy seed dressing.
Notes
Other recipes you will love
Stay tuned over the next few days! We will be posting one of our favorite salad recipes that uses this lemon poppy seed dressing!
