*Showstopper* Summer Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

One of the best things about summer is the gorgeous array of fresh fruit that is perfectly ripe and ready to be enjoyed! I love finding different ways to use all the delicious fruit while it’s in season. Lately I’ve had a craving for Panera’s strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing. I haven’t had it in yearssss, so it was a random yet particular craving. At the farmer’s market, I had just picked up some lovely nectarines and strawberries so I thought I’d try to feed my craving and make a salad using all the summer fruit I love! My Showstopper Summer Salad is a striking blend of spinach, strawberries, blueberries, nectarines, mandarin oranges, red onions, and honey roasted pistachios drizzled with a rich and creamy poppy seed dressing. All the delicious flavors of summer in one quick and easy salad!

To start the salad, chop your spinach and arrange it on your serving dish as the base layer. (You’re welcome to keep the spinach leaves whole, but I really prefer chopped salads.) Once the base layer is down, cut your strawberries, nectarines, and red onion in thin slices. Arrange your strawberries, nectarines, and red onions in rows next to each other. Next, place your blueberries and mandarin orange slices in neat rows beside the other produce. Lastly, sprinkle the honey roasted pistachios on top of the salad. Voila! The salad is done, so simple and quick! Now on to the dressing 🙂

To make the poppy seed dressing, in a small bowl combine your mayonnaise, milk, honey, white wine vinegar, salt, dry mustard, and poppy seeds. Whisk until thoroughly combined and drizzle on your gorgeous salad right before serving. If I’m short on time, I will purchase a store-bought poppy seed dressing to save myself some stress. I love Brianna’s Homestyle Rich Poppy Seed Dressing! This salad is truly a showstopper and will dazzle your guests (or your family) when you place it on the table! I hope my Showstopper Summer Salad brings you joy and makes your summer table glow! 🙂

Showstopper Summer Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients

Salad:

5 oz Chopped Spinach

3/4 Cup Strawberries, Sliced

1 Nectarine, Thinly Sliced

1/4 Red Onion, Very Thinly Sliced

1/2 Cup Blueberries

1/2 Cup Mandarin Oranges (I Use Canned Mandarin Oranges, Drained)

1/4 Cup Honey Roasted Pistachios

Poppy Seed Dressing:

2/3 Cup Mayonnaise

1/4 Cup Whole Milk

2 TBSP Honey

3 TBSP White Wine Vinegar

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp Salt

2 TBSP Poppy Seeds

Instructions

To start the salad, chop your spinach and arrange it on your serving dish as the base layer. Once the base layer is down, cut your strawberries, nectarines, and red onion in thin slices. Arrange your strawberries, nectarines, and red onions in rows next to each other. Next, place your blueberries and mandarin orange slices in neat rows beside the other produce. Lastly, sprinkle the honey roasted pistachios on top of the salad.

To make the poppy seed dressing, in a small bowl combine your mayonnaise, milk, honey, white wine vinegar, salt, dry mustard, and poppy seeds. Whisk until thoroughly combined and drizzle on your gorgeous salad right before serving.