Berry Spinach Salad and Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing | Easy Salad Recipe (2024)

Bless This Mess Recipes Side Dishes and Salads Salads

By Melissa

on Jan 28, 2015, Updated Oct 28, 2022

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Berry Spinach Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing is bursting with flavor and made with blueberries, feta cheese, almonds, and bacon! This colorful salad recipe with homemade dressing makes an awesome lunch!

Berry Spinach Salad and Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing | Easy Salad Recipe (2)

Table of Contents

  • Healthy and Simple Spinach Salad Recipe
  • Homemade Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing
  • Tips and Tricks on Making Candied Almonds:
  • How Long Does the Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing Last?
  • How Do I Mix the Dressing Back Together After Storing in the Fridge?
  • Can I Store the Leftover Salad?
  • Berry Spinach Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe

Healthy and Simple Spinach Salad Recipe

Be still my salad loving heart. Berry Spinach Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing is a keeper, friends. I call this salad “girl food,” which means it’s just the perfect dish to make when you are having your best friend over for a playdate. Feed the kids quesadillas or PB&J, send them out to play or get out the train tracks, and then hide in the kitchen to scarf this down with your favorite free therapist. That’s what best friends are, right?!

Homemade Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing

And let’s talk a second about how quick but delicious the homemade dressing is! This citrus poppy seed dressing is awesome, and I’m sad it’s all gone. All you do is measure some things into a jar, add a lid, and give it a shake. WIN! It’s such an easy process, but I know lots of people are a little intimidated by it. Have no fear, it’s easy and tastes so much better than anything you can buy.

Tips and Tricks on Making Candied Almonds:

Here’s a little tip on the candied almonds. Just buy a bag of slivered almonds that has about a cup in it. Add that and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar to a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Keep an eye on it and stir it occasionally until the sugar in the very center of the pan starts to melt, then stir constantly. Stir until all of the sugar melts and it just starts to look like the almonds are toasting. This should happen quickly once the sugar starts to melt, maybe one minute to 30 seconds. You can’t walk away or you’ll burn your nuts, but once you make it a time or two, you’ll make them all the time! It’s easy. Eat whatever nuts you didn’t put on the salad later for a snack. So good!

Berry Spinach Salad and Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing | Easy Salad Recipe (3)

How Long Does the Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing Last?

This dressing should be stored in the fridge and will last up to two weeks if you don’t eat it all right away!

How Do I Mix the Dressing Back Together After Storing in the Fridge?

The oil in the dressing can separate out when it is stored. Simply shake the jar to recombine the dressing. Sometimes I have to let it sit on the counter while I make dinner because my oil gets thick in the fridge. This is totally normal!

Can I Store the Leftover Salad?

Of course! Leftover salad can be stored in the fridge, but if you already have everything mixed together, the spinach will lose its crispness quickly. It’s best if you store the ingredients separately, or follow my storing method with my Salad in a Jar recipe.

Video of how to make berry spinach salad:

Print

Berry Spinach Salad and Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing | Easy Salad Recipe (4)

Berry Spinach Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Melissa Griffiths – Bless This Mess
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6 as a side or 23 as a main dish 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Berry Spinach Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing is bursting with flavor and made with blueberries, feta cheese, almonds, and bacon! This colorful salad recipe with homemade dressing makes an awesome lunch!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Berry Spinach Salad

  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 810 strawberries stems removed and sliced
  • 3/4 cup candied almond slices
  • 3 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing, recipe follows

For the Citrus Poppy seed Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest
  • Fresh orange juice from one orange
  • Fresh lemon juice from 1/2 of a lemon
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Instructions

  1. For the salad: Add all of your ingredients to a bowl and toss to combine. Or you can add the spinach to a shallow bowl and then line the toppings on top (this is what I did), toss before serving.
  2. For the dressing: Add everything to a mason jar, add the lid, shake to combine. Shake well before using.
  3. You can dress the salad right before serving (the recipe makes more than you will need) or you can let everyone dress their own, pouring the dressing right out of your mason jar. I like to let everyone add their own dressing.
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Category: Salad
  • Cuisine: American
Berry Spinach Salad and Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing | Easy Salad Recipe (5)

More Delicious Salad Recipes:

  • Thai Chopped Salad with the Best Peanut Dressing
  • Barbecue Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad
  • 6 Simple Salad in a Jar Recipes
  • Easy Apple Spinach Salad with an Apple Vinaigrette
  • Midwestern Creamy Cucumber and Vinegar Salad
  • The BEST Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad of Summer
  • Salad in a Jar – How to
  • How to Make Homemade Salad Dressing: 9 Easy Recipes

This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated in July 2019.

Put together this easyBerry Spinach Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressingfor a filling and flavorful lunch, with tart fruits and robust cheese and bacon.

About Melissa

Read More About Me

You May Also Like:

Salads

Beet Salad

Salads

Avocado Salad

Condiments, Marinades, & Spreads

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Condiments, Marinades, & Spreads

Blue Cheese Dressing

Berry Spinach Salad and Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing | Easy Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is poppy seed salad dressing made of? ›

Poppy seed dressing is a simple vinaigrette with vinegar, oil, poppy seed, and other ingredients such as sugar and herbs to help round out the dressing. This vinaigrette can be used on any salad that you make and has a nice balance of sweetness and tang with honey and vinegar.

Is it okay to eat poppy seed dressing? ›

Poppyseed dressing contains saturated fatty acids -- 2 grams per 2-tablespoon serving. The American Heart Association warns that consumption of saturated fats raises your blood cholesterol level. Raising those levels too high increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.

How many calories are in poppy seed salad dressing? ›

There are 65 calories in 1 tablespoon of Poppy Seed Dressing.

What is the healthiest salad dressing in the world? ›

Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest.

What is in Panera poppyseed dressing? ›

Detailed Ingredients

Water, Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Orange Juice Concentrate, Contains Less Than 2% of Dried Onion, Mustard Flour, Poppy Seeds, Salt, Sodium Alginate, Soybean Oil, Stevia Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Natural Flavors.

What does eating poppy seeds do for your skin? ›

Poppy seeds being a powerhouse of antioxidants and essential nutrients reduce skin inflammation, scalp infections and promotes overall skin and hair health. The high amount of linoleic acid in poppy makes it extremely effective in treating eczema, burns and itching.

Are poppies good for gut health? ›

Poppy seeds are rich in fiber, which may improve gut health and reduce constipation ( 18 , 19 ). May safeguard against certain illnesses. The antioxidants in these seeds may protect your body from cellular damage and various illnesses ( 11 , 12 ).

Are poppy seeds good for your stomach? ›

These seeds keep your stomach feeling full for a much longer time. It can be added to your food so that you can avoid constipation and other problems like gas and indigestion. This is due to the fact that poppy seeds carry plenty of dietary fibres.

How many calories in 2 tablespoons of poppy seed dressing? ›

Salad Dressing Poppyseed Creamy (2 tbsp) contains 7.8g total carbs, 7.7g net carbs, 11g fat, 0.3g protein, and 132 calories.

Does poppy seed dressing need to be refrigerated? ›

Do you need to keep poppy seed dressing refrigerated? Yes. Store this dressing in the refrigerator in a sealed container. I recommend removing the dressing from the refrigerator about thirty minutes before serving.

Is there sugar in poppyseed dressing? ›

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. INGREDIENTS: CANOLA OIL SUGAR, WATER, WHITE ONIONS, WHITE VINEGAR, SALT, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, POPPY SEEDS, MUSTARD FLOUR, XANTHAN GUM, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT - VITAMIN E).

What is poppy seed dressing taste like? ›

Poppy seed dressing is a slightly creamy vinaigrette that strikes the perfect balance between tangy and sweet flavors, with a delightful nutty crunch from the seeds.

What is poppy seed filling made of? ›

Ingredients: Corn syrup, poppyseeds, sugar, water, modified corn starch, salt, vanilla extract, spices, and citric acid.

What flavor is poppy seed? ›

Poppy seeds taste nutty, or, when ground to the consistency of moist soil, they offer a pleasant fruitiness I find irresistible. They do have a tendency to get stuck in your teeth, but they are also good for you: rich in magnesium, calcium and fiber.

What are the ingredients in Kraft poppyseed dressing? ›

Water, Sugar, Soybean Oil, Corn Syrup, Red Wine Vinegar, White Vinegar, Dried Sour Cream (milk Solids, Citric Acid, Bacterial Culture, Bha, Bht), Salt, Poppy Seeds, Dried Onions, Xanthan Gum (thickener), Potassium Sorbate (maintains Quality), Natural Flavour, Propylene Glycol Alginate (thickener), Mustard, Polysorbate ...

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 6069

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.