Caesar Salad is a light and refreshing side dish that has croutons, a creamy homemade dressing, on a bed of crispy romaine lettuce and topped with parmesan cheese.
It is a great addition to any meal. If you want more salad ideas, check out my recipes for Deviled Egg Potato Salad, Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad, and Overnight Salad.
Classic Caesar Salad Recipe
This classic Caesar Salad recipe is so easy to make from scratch. Yes, even the croutons! And my favorite part of this recipe is being able to offer my family something fresh and healthy!
Making salads, especially this one, is a simple process but the results are outstanding. It pairs well with almost any meaty main dish.
Did you know that the dressing was originally made with raw egg? You whisk it so that it creates an emulsion with olive oil.
But to make things easier, we will use my homemade version! It eliminates the risk of having to consume raw egg, but still, it is delicious!
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What goes into a Classic Caesar Salad?
- Croutons: you will need French baguettes, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil
- Dressing: more garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and ground black pepper
- Romaine lettuce
- More shredded parmesan cheese
How to make Caesar Dressing
- Make a paste: Combine the first 5 ingredients as listed above.
- Combine: Whisk together the rest of the dressing ingredients.
- Store: You can put this in an airtight container to use later. Or, drizzle over your lettuce.
You can refer to this Caesar dressing recipe for the exact proportions. Feel free to omit the anchovies if you like. Even the traditional version does not have them.
How to make homemade Caesar Salad
- Prepare the croutons: Divide the French baguette in half lengthwise, then, slice 1/4-inch thick pieces. In a bowl, combine the oil and minced garlic. Then, drizzle the mixture over the baguette pieces placed on a baking sheet. Toss until everything is coated. Line them up and toast in a preheated oven until crispy.
- Make the dressing: In a bowl, combine the ingredients as described in the above section.
- Prepare the lettuce: Rinse and dry the leaves, then chop or tear in smaller pieces. Place them in a bowl.
- Assemble: Sprinkle parmesan cheese on the lettuce and drizzle the dressing on top. Toss everything, then serve.
Best lettuce for Caesar Salad?
The best lettuce to use is romaine. Keep it cold and crispy by cutting it. Remember to get only the freshest ones!
What to serve with Caesar Salad?
Recipe variations:
You may add protein by putting chunks of grilled chicken, pork, bacon, or boiled eggs. Or, add more ingredients like tomatoes, kale, and some short pasta!
How to store Caesar Salad?
It is always best to keep the romaine fresh. As for the rest of the elements, you can store them for up to a week.
Refrigerate the dressing and store the croutons at room temperature, sealed in an airtight container.
Recipe Tips:
- You can also make the croutons on the stovetop by heating some oil on a skillet and tossing the bread cubes until everything is crispy and light brown. Other bread alternatives are sourdough and plain sandwich bread.
- Make sure that the lettuce is dry. This is to ensure that the dressing will coat the leaves.
- It is a nice lunchbox meal, too. What you need to do is to assemble it such that the lettuce remains crispy. In your container, layer the following in order: dressing, parmesan cheese (and other ingredients if you choose to add some meat), lettuce. Then, put the croutons in a separate container. Simply toss everything when ready to eat!
Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 30 mins
Ingredients
Garlic Croutons:
- 1/2 French Baguette (cut in half sliced into 1/4" thick slices)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
Caesar Dressing:
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Caesar Salad:
- 1 large romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (shredded or shaved)
Instructions
How to Make Croutons:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the bread slices in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil with minced garlic and drizzle the mixture over the croutons.
- Toss until evenly coated.
- Arrange the bread in a single layer onto a baking sheet and bake until lightly golden and crisp, about 10-12 minutes.
Caesar Salad Dressing:
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl, stir well and set aside.
Assemble the Salad:
- Rinse and dry the romaine lettuce,
- Chop it and layer it in a large serving bowl, sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese, add the cooled croutons and drizzle 1/2 of the dressing on top. Toss gently and if needed add more dressing until the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve immediately.
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