Strawberry Poppyseed Salad: A show-stopping mix of sweet strawberries, creamy avocado, candied almonds, and tangy feta. The quick poppyseed dressing is the best.
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Recipe
My little sister’s favorite restaurant growing up was always Panera. Every birthday, her lunch or dinner request was Panera, and I never complained because I loved their Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Strawberry Poppyseed Salad. Years later, we moved away and without a Panera nearby, I knew I had to recreate my favorite salad and soup.
This Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is one of my favorites because it’s the perfect mix of creamy, sweet, and crunchy. Inspired by Panera Bread®’s version, I added my own twist.
Panera’s original salad has various fruits, chicken, nuts, and poppyseed dressing. In my version, I keep the strawberries, nuts, and dressing, but swap other fruits for avocado and feta cheese. The avocado adds creaminess, and the feta cheese ties all the flavors together.
This is going to be your new go-to salad!
Ingredients In Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
- Candied Almonds: Just sugar and almonds! Watch carefully while cooking to avoid burning, and stir constantly. In a crunch you can grab these pre-made at the grocery store.
- Creamy Poppyseed Dressing: Provides a rich, tangy flavor that ties everything together. Blend well and adjust flavors before adding poppyseeds.
- Baby Spinach or Mixed Greens: This is the crisp, fresh base for the salad. Use a mix of greens or baby spinach.
- Strawberries: Adds sweetness and a burst of fruity flavor. Slice strawberries just before adding to keep them fresh and juicy.
- Avocado: Use ripe avocados and add them last to make sure they don’t brown.
- Feta Cheese: Adds a tangy, savory flavor to the strawberry poppyseed salad.
Quick Tip
The dressing is likely more than you will need for the strawberry poppyseed salad. Store leftovers in the fridge for 4-5 days and use them for other salads or for a fruit/veggie dip.
How To Make Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
- Candied Almonds: Cook sliced almonds and sugar in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar melts and coats almonds. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Cool on parchment paper.
- Dressing: Blend mayonnaise, milk, cream, sugar, vinegar, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until smooth. Adjust flavors before adding poppyseeds. Stir in poppyseeds.
- Salad: Combine greens, sliced strawberries, diced avocado, crumbled feta, and candied almonds in a bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss. Add avocado last to prevent browning.
Variations
Switch Things Up
- Fruit: Panera’s salad includes blueberries, pineapple, and mandarin oranges, along with the strawberries. Add these or other fruits for a similar flavor.
- Switch Up Your Cheese: Blue cheese or goat cheese work great in place of the feta, or leave the cheese out all together.
- Shortcut Dressing: Highly recommend the homemade poppyseed dressing recipe for how dang delicious it is, but store-bought dressing like Brianna’s poppyseed dressing® will work when in a pinch.
- Nuts and Seeds: Swap out the almonds with a mix of candied pecans, walnuts, and sunflower seeds for different textures.
What To Serve With Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
- Add Some Protein: Add Grilled chicken, Grilled Flank Steak, or Air Fryer Chickpeas to make your strawberry poppyseed salad more filling.
- Serve With Grains: Mix in some cooked Quinoa, Farro, or Brown Rice to make it heartier.
- Enjoy It Panera Style: Serve some French Bread, Dinner Rolls, or sourdough on the side. Pro tip: dredge your bread in some of the extra dressing!
- Enjoy As A Side: Serve your strawberry poppyseed salad on the side with Shepherds Pie, The Very Best Lasagna, or Short Ribs,
Storage
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Storage
This salad doesn’t store well after assembly because the greens wilt, the avocado browns, and the almonds soften. Eat it soon after making.
To prepare in advance: Make the dressing and store it in the fridge in a mason jar. Prepare candied almonds early and store them in an airtight container. Assemble the rest of the salad just before serving.
More Fresh Salad Recipes
- Corn Salad loaded with fresh veggies
- California Pizza Kitchen copy cat Italian Chopped Salad
- Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with roasted beets
- Honey Mustard Salad Dressing with a grilled chicken salad
- Light and tangy Greek Pasta Salad
Easy Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
Equipment
- Medium pan
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
Stovetop Candied Almonds (see note 1)
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Creamy Poppyseed Dressing
- 1/3 cup mayo full-fat
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 lemon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds
Salad
- 8 cups (5 ounces) baby spinach or mixed greens
- 2 cups strawberries stems removed and sliced
- 1 large ripe avocado diced, or 2 small avocados
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Candied Almonds: Place sliced almonds and sugar in a pan over medium heat. Cook and stir constantly until sugar melts and coats almonds, 3–4 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Remove from heat and continue stirring until well coated. Spread on parchment paper to cool. Once hardened, break apart and set aside.
- Dressing: Zest lemon to get 1/2 teaspoon zest. In a small blender, combine zest with all dressing ingredients except poppyseeds and blend until smooth. Adjust flavors if needed, then stir in poppy seeds.
- Salad: Add greens to a large bowl. Top with sliced strawberries, diced avocado, feta cheese, and candied almonds. Drizzle with dressing, adding only to what will be eaten the same day; toss to combine (see note 2). Enjoy immediately.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love decent spinach serving mixed greens; this one seems as though it wouldn’t frustrate. The candy-coated walnuts in here make my heart dissolve. I’m a sucker for a sugar-coated walnut yet in a plate of mixed greens! It should add the ideal pleasantness and crunch!
Yay! I hope you enjoy! 🙂
Made this and loved it!
So happy to hear! Thanks Tina! 🙂
I like salads a lot. Added my favorite fruits. It become more delicious and yummy. Thanks a lot
You’re welcome! 🙂
So good!! I added rotisserie chicken and red onion. Husband and I had seconds!
So thrilled this was a hit; thanks for the comment! 🙂