Our Signature Strawberry Chicken Salad

Salad Ingredients:

Vine Ripe Sliced Strawberries
Natural Sliced Almonds, Toasted
Grilled Breast of Chicken Sliced
Organic Field Greens

Poppy Seed Dressing:

Popularized by Texas chef and cookbook author Helen Corbitt, Director of Neiman Marcus Foods in the 1950s & 60s, this sweet-tart vinaigrette, enriched with poppy seeds, is perfect for a salad of butter lettuce or field greens. Makes about 2 cups.

Dressing Ingredients:

2 tbsp poppy seeds
1⁄2 cup sugar
1⁄3 cup white wine vinegar
2 tsp dry mustard powder
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 small yellow onion, finely grated, juice reserved
3⁄4 cup canola oil
1⁄4 cup olive oil

Instructions:

Heat a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Add poppy seeds, and cook, swirling pan constantly, until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add sugar, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and onion with juice, and cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to simmer. Remove from heat and transfer to a blender. Add both oils, and blend until smooth; chill.