How to Use Poppyseed Dressing

Poppy seeds are little nuggets of deliciousness. You’ve probably seen them before on bagels and burger buns, in breads and cakes, and maybe even in potato or pasta salads. They’re an integral part of that savory, tantalizing flavor that makes your morning everything bagel so delicious. They’re also one of the key ingredients in poppy seed vinaigrette dressings like our creamy Poppyseed Dressing made with avocado oil.

Poppy seed dressings have a wide variety of sweetness levels, depending on which other ingredients are included in the recipe and to what degree. Primal Kitchen® Poppyseed Dressing & Marinade is slightly more savory than sweet, with notes of pungent onion and tangy vinegar grounded by the earthy nuttiness of the poppy seeds. On the scale of thick and creamy (think blue cheese) to light vinaigrette, our creamy Poppyseed Dressing is delicately balanced right in the middle for a gently creamy mouthfeel with a light and refreshing weight. 

This delightful plant-based dressing is made with avocado oil, organic vinegar, and onion puree, with a touch of sweetness from real ingredients like organic date syrup, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of monk fruit. There’s no cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup; just mouthwatering flavor that pops on your palate.   

How Do You Use Poppy Seed Dressing?

Salads are the obvious choice, but we’re not just talking about your average iceberg lettuce and cucumber variety (although that works, too). Poppyseed Dressing is a versatile choice for every salad season, from summer strawberry spinach salads to the crisp autumn flavors of butter lettuce with cranberries, pecans, and butternut squash. Think of it as the Little Black Dress of salad dressings, quickly transitioning from a casual lunch to an elegant dinner party with just a few ingredient tweaks. 

Beyond salads, our Poppyseed Dressing also makes a delightful marinade for poultry, fish, veggies, and more. Mix it into pasta salad or cole slaw, use it as a creamy dip for chicken or plant-based nuggets, and drizzle it over root vegetables. Here are just a few outstanding ways you can take flavor to the next level with our no-dairy dressing, using our recipes as inspo.

Marinate Meats 

A master at marinating, our Poppyseed Dressing adds a pop of flavor to meats while keeping in all the succulent juices. Thread marinated meat cubes onto skewers with your favorite veggies or fruits and grill for an easy, simple dish that looks like it came out of a five-star kitchen. In this delicious Chicken and Apple Kabob Recipe, crisp, sweet apples contrast with the savory creaminess of our Poppyseed Dressing, used as both marinade and dip. 

Grilled Chicken and Apple Kabobs

Servings: 4
Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 large Honeycrisp apples, cored and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1/4 cup Primal Kitchen Poppyseed Dressing

Splash on a Salad

From simple side salads to bountiful bowls piled high with garden-fresh vegetables and herbs, our Poppyseed Dressing is ready to tackle the salad game and make your taste buds tingle. For a simple but elegant salad, pour mixed dried fruit (we used blueberries, cranberries, and cherries) onto sharp, bitter arugula and top with uncured bacon bits for a delightful hit of salty-sweetness. Add Poppyseed Dressing, toss to coat, and voila: a perfectly balanced salad bowl.

Poppyseed Arugula Salad

Servings: 4
Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 cups arugula , washed and dried
• 1/2 cup mixed fruit (we used a mix of blueberries, cranberries, and cherries)
• 1/2 cup bacon bits
• Primal Kitchen Poppyseed Dressing, to taste

Drizzle on Veggies

Meats hog all the attention, but vegetables can have main character energy, too! Give broccolini, carrots, and cauliflower a starring role on your table by spraying them with Avocado Oil and sprinkling with salt, popping them in the oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and roasting at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway to ensure a crisp, crunchy exterior. Drizzle with Primal Kitchen Poppyseed Dressing and enjoy!   

Roasted Vegetables with Poppyseed Dressing

Servings: 2-3
Time: 30-35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4-5 carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally
• 1 small head cauliflower, broken into florets
• 1 bunch broccolini, trimmed
• Primal Kitchen® Avocado Spray Oil
• 4 Tbsp. Primal Kitchen Poppyseed Dressing
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Tuck Into Pasta, Potatoes, & More

Creamy, mayo-based dishes like macaroni salad and potato salad are a natural fit for Poppyseed Dressing. Used solo or teamed up with our creamy, classic real mayonnaise, our flavorful dressing lends added depth and a savory burst of onion flavor to these traditional picnic sides. For a quick and easy twist on pasta salad, cook your favorite noodles to al dente; then drain, cool, and add seedless red grapes, crushed almonds, and chopped green onion. Pour Poppyseed Dressing on top and toss to combine, then chill.  

Poppyseed Pasta Salad

Servings: 3-4
Time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups pasta (we used fusilli) 
• 6 oz. Primal Kitchen Poppyseed Dressing
• 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup crushed or slivered almonds
• 3-4 stalks green onion, finely chopped