From Bobbie's original dinner cards
A recipe keepsake from Bobbie's Kitchen
Portillo's Style Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken and Fruit
Fresh, colourful, sweet and savoury — the restaurant favourite, made at home.
Bobbie's tips: use fresh, crisp romaine; pat fruit dry so the salad doesn't get watery; chill the dressing for deeper flavour; add chicken while still slightly warm for extra flavour; use Granny Smith apples for a crisp, tart contrast; make extra dressing — it's amazing on other salads too. Storage: dressing keeps in an airtight container in the fridge up to 1 week; the assembled salad is best eaten immediately (keep ingredients separate and dress just before serving); leftovers keep up to 2 days with dressing on the side. Nutrition per serving from Bobbie's card (approximate): 420 calories, 28 g protein, 28 g fat, 28 g carbohydrates, 4 g fibre. Vegetarian option: omit the chicken.
Ingredients
For the salad
- 4 cooked chicken breasts (about 2 lbs), diced
- 10–12 cups romaine lettuce, chopped (about 2 large heads)
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced (about 1 lb)
- 1½ cups fresh blueberries
- 2 cups pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
- 2 cups mandarin oranges (drained)
- 2 Granny Smith apples, diced
- 1½ cups candied pecans
- 1 cup crumbled blue cheese (or feta or goat cheese)
For the poppy seed dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1½ teaspoons poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional add-ins
- Extra candied pecans
- Dried cranberries
- Feta or goat cheese
- Avocado
- Pomegranate arils
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Method
- 1
Make the dressing: combine all dressing ingredients in a jar or bowl. Whisk or shake until smooth. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to meld. Shake again before using.
- 2
Prep the ingredients: wash and chop all fruit, lettuce and chicken. Pat fruit dry. Dice chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- 3
Assemble the salad: in a large bowl, add chopped romaine. Top with chicken, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, green apples, candied pecans and blue cheese.
- 4
Dress and toss: drizzle with poppy seed dressing (about ¾–1 cup, or to taste) and gently toss just before serving.
- 5
Serve and enjoy: serve immediately and enjoy the fresh, sweet and savoury flavours in every bite!
Get this in a pack
Portillo's Style Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken and Fruit is printed in More Family Favourites
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$12
Or get every pack in one go: The Whole Kitchen Collection — $39
From Bobbie's “Bobbie's Recipe Cards (batch 4)”. Written up by Bobbie's Kitchen · Updated 26 October 2026