Description
A refreshing Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad featuring crisp romaine, sweet fresh strawberries, and crunchy candied almonds, all tossed in a creamy poppy seed dressing. Perfect for a light, flavorful side or a vibrant addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup slivered almonds
- 1 bunch romaine lettuce, torn (about 8 cups)
- 1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, halved
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 tablespoon 2% milk
- 2 1/4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
Instructions
- Make the candied almonds: Place the 1/4 cup sugar in a small, heavy skillet and cook over medium-low heat. Stir continuously until the sugar melts completely and turns a caramel color, which should take about 10 minutes. Immediately add the slivered almonds and stir well to coat them evenly with the caramelized sugar. Spread the coated almonds on a piece of foil and allow them to cool and harden.
- Prep the salad and dressing: In a large salad bowl, combine the torn romaine lettuce, thinly sliced onion, and halved strawberries. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sugar, sour cream, 2% milk, apple cider vinegar, and poppy seeds until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the salad: Pour the prepared poppy seed dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Toss gently to ensure everything is coated evenly. Break the cooled candied almonds into smaller pieces and sprinkle them on top of the salad. Serve the salad immediately for the best freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor and sweetness.
- Be careful when making the candied almonds as melted sugar is very hot and can burn quickly.
- For a lighter version, you can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- This salad is best served soon after assembling to keep the almonds crunchy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: strawberry salad, poppy seed dressing, candied almonds, fresh strawberries, romaine lettuce, easy salad recipe
