This Poppy Seed Dressing Turned Me Into a Salad Person

A perfect balance of tangy and sweet, this poppy seed dressing is made with basic fridge and pantry staples. Kelli Foster/TCA

My family members have never been big salad people. This is by design—we grew up eating mostly Korean food at home, where vegetables were served individually as banchan rather than tossed all together in a dressing. But, ever since my dad got a membership back in the ’90s, we’ve been big Costco people.

I loved going to our local Costco—helping my mom push the oversized cart, scouting out all the samples, and marveling at the baker’s dozens of giant muffins. It’s also where we discovered salad kits, ones that were legitimately delicious and hearty.

I’d always felt like most of your run-of-the-mill supermarket salad kits consist of a weak handful of bruised greens or vegetables like some sad spinach, wilted carrot sticks, and maybe a sprinkle of arugula if you’re lucky.

But, the Costco Eat Smart Sweet Kale Salad Kit is big and nutritious: a slaw packed full of broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, and chicory with a separate package of chewy, dried cranberries, and crunchy, roasted pumpkin seeds for topping. It’s a symphony of textures and flavors, from the sweet and bitter hints of the vegetables to the tart and savory bites of the add-ins.

After many rounds of the Sweet Kale Salad and its accompanying poppy seed dressing, my family was officially converted into salad people.

What’s in the Costco copycat poppy seed dressing?

The poppy seed dressing that comes with the kit is the true star though. This creamy dressing is delicious paired with the broccoli and kale slaw, and does exactly what a dressing should do—make the salad even tastier! It’s tangy and sweet without being cloying, but still coats the salad veggies with just the right amount of flavor and seasoning, with little pops from the poppy seeds.

I live in Brooklyn, where there is no Costco, so I set out to recreate the salad dressing at home. This one’s made with pantry and fridge staples that I always have on hand: apple cider vinegar, the juice from a fresh orange, poppy seeds, and onion powder.

I’ve found that the poppy seed dressing pairs well with chicken, citrus, and nuts, so it has been my go-to when making any kind of salad. And, since it only takes five minutes to whip up, it’s sure to make you a salad person too.

Copycat Costco Poppy Seed Dressing

Makes 1/2 cup

• 1/2 medium lemon
• 1/2 medium orange
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Prepare the following, adding each to the same jar or lidded container as you complete it: Finely grate the zest of 1/2 medium lemon until you have 1/2 teaspoon. Juice the lemon until you have 1 teaspoon. Juice 1/2 medium orange until you have 2 tablespoons.

2. Add 1 large egg yolk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon honey, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Seal the jar or container and shake vigorously until all the ingredients are combined and the dressing is creamy. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed.

Recipe Notes

Substitutions: You can substitute any other neutral oil like avocado or light olive oil for the vegetable oil. You can also omit the egg yolk, but add in 1/4 teaspoon dry ground mustard to retain the creaminess.

Storage: The dressing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.

Irene Yoo is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to [email protected].

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