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Fresh Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Copycat Recipe

Fresh Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad - featured image
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A bright, fresh, and easy-to-make salad featuring juicy strawberries, crunchy greens, nuts, and a creamy homemade poppyseed dressing that mimics the Panera original.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups mixed greens (baby spinach, spring mix, or arugula) (about 180g / 6.3 oz)
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced (150g / 5.3 oz)
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (75g / 2.6 oz)
  • ¼ cup slivered almonds or chopped pecans, toasted lightly (30g / 1 oz)
  • 2 tablespoons red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise (60ml / 4 tablespoons)
  • ¼ cup Greek yogurt (plain, full-fat or 2%) (60g / 4 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (40ml / 1.3 fl oz)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (15ml / 0.5 fl oz)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml / 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (9g / 0.3 oz), soaked in 1 tablespoon warm water for 10 minutes
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (5ml / 1 teaspoon)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds in a small bowl and cover with 1 tablespoon of warm water. Let soak for 10 minutes to soften, then drain any excess liquid.
  2. In a small mixing bowl or mason jar, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Add the soaked poppy seeds last. Whisk or shake vigorously until smooth and creamy. Adjust sweetness or acidity as needed.
  3. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add slivered almonds or chopped pecans and toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
  4. Rinse and dry mixed greens thoroughly. Hull and slice strawberries. Thinly slice red onion if using. Crumble feta or goat cheese.
  5. In a large salad bowl, combine greens, strawberries, toasted nuts, and onion. Add dressing gradually—start with half, toss gently, and add more if needed to lightly coat leaves.
  6. Plate the salad, sprinkle cheese on top, and add a final crack of black pepper. Serve immediately.

Notes

Soak poppy seeds before adding to dressing to avoid gritty texture. Toast nuts gently to avoid burning. Dry greens thoroughly to prevent sogginess. Toss salad just before serving to keep greens crisp. Dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored refrigerated.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry salad, poppyseed dressing, Panera copycat, fresh salad, easy salad recipe, homemade dressing, healthy salad

Find it online: https://grubella.com/fresh-panera-strawberry-poppyseed-salad-copycat-recipe-easy-homemade-dressing-guide/