This is a remarkable seasonal salad. It is best done with local strawberries, a season that barely covers two or three weeks in June in New Jersey. I have little or no patience with California strawberries with both the taste and consistency of plastic foam.
This would be a great Christmas salad, except that you would be forced into contending with the aforesaid plastic like strawberries. If you like them , be my guest, but you will be missing the true glory of this dish.
I usually use baby spinach (which comes all washed) or another green like Boston lettuce or Romaine lettuce, cleaned and torn into bite size pieces. Wash and hull strawberries (small or medium size) and depending on the number or people being served ,carefully spread a quart or more of strawberries over the greens and toss with this Poppy Seed Dressing. Do not use frozen strawberries.
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
5 teaspoons tarragon vinegar
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup of vegetable oil (Canola or Grape seed oil)
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Mix mustard, paprika, salt , vinegar in bowl. Add honey and lemon. Gradually beat in oil. Stir in poppy seeds, Chill