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I’ve been waiting for good, fresh strawberries to show up at our local grocery store so I could make this copycat Panera strawberry poppy seed dressing. My patience was definitely rewarded and then some. This could easily be my favorite salad dressing of all time. Smooth strawberry flavor with just a bit of sweetness. White balsamic vinegar, while not as cheap as the dark version, is more mellow and adds a great tang. This dressing looks as amazing as it tastes, too. It’s a big ‘ooooh’ and ‘ahhhh’ winner on the table.
What Is White Balsamic Vinegar?
I was curious what makes white balsamic vinegar more subtle and rich than the dark version, so I Googled it. Turns out dark balsamic vinegar is aged for at least twelve years in barrels that have been fired and were previously used for other batches of balsamic vinegar. White balsamic vinegar, on the other hand, is aged at least twelve years in new barrels that have not been fired or used before. That explains the cleaner, smoother flavor! It’s perfect in this copycat Panera strawberry poppy seed dressing.
Other Berries Work Too!
You can substitute other berries for the strawberries if you want. Raspberries and black berries are great. Or even try peaches. I think this recipe will work well with any good in-season fruit.
Also try some Panera Bread Greek vinaigrette.
Copycat Panera Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries hulled and chopped
- ½ cup white balsamic vinegar or regular but the dressing will be darker
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar or your favorite no-calorie sweetener
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Combine all of the dressing ingredients except the poppy seeds together in a high-speed blender or food processor.
- Mix until smooth.
- Stir in the poppy seeds and serve.
