Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

Why I love this strawberry poppyseed salad

Summers are made for salads with fresh fruit. There are so many delicious berries and fresh stone fruits at the markets and grocery stores, it would be crazy to not take advantage of it. I’ve already had my fair share of grilled peach salad, so I figured it was time to move on to berries.

I used to love topping my fruit salads with a little goat cheese, but since we’re making this one dairy free, I decided to add my favorite homemade croutons instead.

It’s a great way to add a little something extra to your salad without adding cheese. I always try to find a “replacement” ingredient, even when I could just leave the cheese out, because I think it makes for a well rounded recipe.

More salad recipes with fruit: kale mango salad / fennel apple salad with walnuts and arugula / mojito fruit salad

Tips for making this strawberry poppyseed salad

• Make your croutons ahead of time. I like to make a big batch and store them in a large zip-top bag to use as I need them.
• Use the freshest strawberries you can get your hands on. I try to make my salad the day I buy my berries, or, at the very least, within a day of buying them. Read this post about keeping your berries as fresh as possible.
• Toast your sliced almonds for better flavor.

How to make creamy poppyseed dressing:

My secret for making a creamy, dairy free dressing is mayonnaise (or vegan mayo if you prefer). It adds a hint of creaminess without adding any milk.

I simply swap out half of what I would measure for olive oil and whisk it into my dressing. You could even use homemade mayonnaise like I do in my favorite dairy free ranch dressing.

I like to make a double batch of the dressing in a mason jar and store it in the fridge for whenever I want it.

Variations for your strawberry poppyseed salad

Try adding blueberries to your strawberry poppyseed salad for an extra pop of color. It’s perfect for taking to a Fourth of July party, but it’s also nice you just want a change of pace or you have a ton of blueberries to eat.

Cucumbers and avocados would also be great in this salad. I left them out because I didn’t have any on hand, but both would be great additions, so don’t hesitate to try them.

To make this salad vegan, swap the mayonnaise for vegan mayo. You could also make this recipe gluten free by using gluten free French bread to make your croutons.

More salad recipes to try:

• Tomato salad recipe
• Farro salad recipe
• Easy macaroni salad
• Spicy cucumber salad
• Mexican street corn salad
• BLT pasta salad

Summer berry recipes you’ll love:

• Strawberry tart
• Raspberry cupcakes
• Blueberry shortcake
• Banana berry smoothie

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Last Updated on April 6, 2022 by Melissa Belanger

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