Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
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This Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing is the ultimate refreshing treat. Juicy strawberries, tangy kiwis, and sweet mangos come together with a dreamy, tangy dressing that’s perfect for any occasion. It’s quick to make and even quicker to disappear!
On a hot summer day, there’s nothing I love more than this Fruit Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing. The juicy strawberries, fresh kiwis, and sweet mangos are so refreshing, and the creamy, tangy dressing ties it all together perfectly. It’s my go-to dish when I want something light, vibrant, and absolutely delicious—plus, it’s super easy to throw together!
Before You Start
- Use Fresh, Ripe Fruit: The best fruit salad starts with the freshest, ripest fruit you can find. It makes all the difference in flavor and texture.
- Chill the Fruit: For an extra refreshing salad, chill the fruit in the refrigerator before mixing it with the dressing. This keeps the salad cool and crisp.
- Mix the Dressing Separately: Always mix the creamy poppy seed dressing separately before adding it to the fruit. This helps coat the fruit evenly and ensures a smooth, well-blended dressing.
- Add the Dressing Just Before Serving: To keep the fruit fresh and vibrant, add the dressing right before you’re ready to serve. This prevents the fruit from getting soggy.
- Customize Your Fruit Mix: Feel free to swap in your favorite fruits or whatever’s in season. Pineapple, peaches, or even a handful of pomegranate seeds would be great additions!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fruits: I chose a combination of grapes, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries and mango. Feel free to swam fruits for your favorites.
- Mayonnaise: Creates a creamy base for the dressing. You can sub with light mayo or even sour cream.
- Greek Yogurt: Adds tanginess and extra creaminess. Swap with regular yogurt if needed.
- Honey: Sweetens the dressing naturally. You can also use maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds acidity to balance the sweetness. Lemon juice is a good alternative.
- Poppy Seeds: Provide a slight crunch and visual appeal. These are key for texture, but can be left out if preferred.
- Dijon Mustard: Gives a subtle tang and depth to the dressing. If you don’t have Dijon, use whole grain mustard.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Season the dressing to bring out all the flavors.
In a large bowl, add 2 cups of hulled and halved strawberries, 3 peeled and chopped kiwis, 1 cup of halved grapes, 1 cup of blueberries, and 2 peeled and diced mangos. Gently toss the fruit together to mix. Tip: Use a large bowl to give you plenty of space to mix without squishing the fruit.
In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper until smooth and well combined. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding more honey for sweetness or more vinegar for tang. Tip: Whisking the dressing separately helps it blend better and coat the fruit evenly.
Pour the creamy poppy seed dressing over the mixed fruit. Gently toss the salad to coat all the fruit evenly with the dressing. Transfer the fruit salad to a serving dish and enjoy immediately. If you’re not serving right away, keep the salad in the fridge and add the dressing just before serving to keep the fruit fresh and vibrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I store leftover Fruit Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing?
I recommend storing the dressing separately from the fruit salad in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. This helps keep the fruit fresh and prevents it from softening too much.
Can I freeze the fruit salad?
I don’t recommend freezing the fruit salad. The texture of the fruit can become mushy after thawing, and the creamy dressing may separate.
Can I make the dressing ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the poppy seed dressing ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just give it a good whisk before using to recombine the ingredients.
How can I prevent the fruit from browning?
To prevent fruits like apples or bananas from browning, you can toss them in a little lemon juice before adding them to the salad. This is less of an issue with the fruits in this recipe, but it’s a good tip if you decide to mix things up!
More Delicious Salads
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Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
Fruit Salad
- 2 cups strawberries (hulled and halved)
- 3 kiwis (peeled and chopped)
- 1 cup grapes (halved)
- 1 cup blueberries
- 2 mangos (peeled and diced)
Poppy Seed Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the strawberries, kiwis, grapes, blueberries, and mangos.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding more salt or honey to taste.
- Add the creamy poppy seed dressing to the fruit mixture. Gently toss to coat all the fruit evenly.
- Transfer the fruit salad to a serving dish and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Store the dressing separately from the fruit to keep the salad fresh.
- Make the dressing ahead of time and refrigerate for up to a week.
- Feel free to swap in your favorite fruits or whatever’s in season.
- Toss the fruit gently to avoid breaking or mashing the pieces.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
