THE BEST EVER CAESAR SALAD

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For good reason, some dishes have stood the test of time. This traditional salad is as simple as it gets, yet it’s as enticing as a cold scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a plate of hot, crispy French fries. The ultimate Caesar salad, right here! A store-bought pre-packaged variety exists, but it has mediocre dressing and soggy croutons. But if you make all the parts yourself, it’s a show-stopper. Everything you need to produce them at home has been fine-tuned by us. This rich and flavorful dressing is sure to become a fast favorite. The garlicky, crispy croutons will be devoured straight from the baking sheet.

MAKING A PERFECT CAESAR SALAD

This Caesar salad, made from scratch, is amazing. You’ll be raving about it from the first mouthful. (Promise.) What you need for a flawless rendition of this timeless classic are:

  • Never buy a box of croutons when you can make them at home! Use the torn bread to make light, crispy balls.
  • Our recipe for Caesar dressing is the best you’ll ever have, and you’ll never want to purchase it again.
  • The delicious and crisp hearts of romaine lettuce are our favorite part of the lettuce head. These are typically offered in threes at the supermarket. A big head of romaine lettuce works, too.
  • Grated Parmesan cheese is a must for the dressing, so go ahead and purchase a block.

THE BEST CROUTONS FOR CAESAR SALAD

Making the croutons is the first step in preparing a Caesar salad. Only 15 minutes in a hot oven is required! While they are in the oven, you can get the rest of the salad ready. For the greatest homemade croutons, follow our advice:

  • Crouton quality increases with the quality of the bread used. Substitute store-bought artisan bread, French bread, or sourdough bread for handmade bread scraps.
  • Separate the bread loaves: If you tear the bread into little pieces, the dressing can get trapped in the cracks and the croutons will be crispier.
  • Mix in some minced garlic powder. The croutons we make have the ideal balance of garlicky and salty flavor.
  • Crispy baking time is roughly 15 minutes. At a low temperature of 300 degrees, you’ll bake until the food is golden and crisp. Once baked, the croutons take on a crisp texture.

MAKING YOUR OWN CAESAR DRESSING FROM SCRATCH

For many years, this Caesar dressing recipe has been our go-to. It’s a lighter, healthier alternative to the classic. And it’s simple to alter for vegetarians. Some further information about this Caesar dressing:

  • Adding Greek yogurt improves the nutritional value. We opted for Greek yogurt in place of all-out mayonnaise and oil. This prevents any loss of creaminess while reducing the calorie count. Our Ranch Dressing follows the same guiding principle.
  • Anchovy paste can be used, but it is not required. We’ve included anchovies because they’re traditionally used to give Caesar dressing its savory flavor. It improves the flavor immensely. But even without it, this dressing is delicious. Caesar dressing is optional, and a vegetarian version is just as tasty.
  • No raw eggs were used. Caesar dressing is traditionally produced using raw egg yolks, much like homemade mayonnaise. However, it is unnecessary in this dish because of the abundance of taste.

PREPARATION STEPS FOR A CAESAR SALAD

All you need in addition to the Caesar dressing and croutons is some romaine hearts and Parmesan cheese shavings to make the perfect Caesar salad. Want some quick tips on how to put things together? How to go ahead in life:

  • The dressing can be made up to a week ahead of time. The flavor holds up well in the fridge for up to a week after preparation.
  • Croutons should be prepared two days in advance. Prepare the croutons and set them aside to cool. Then, put it away for up to 2 days in an airtight container. The closer they are to being freshly prepared, the better they will taste.

TURN IT INTO A MAIN COURSE!

Why not make Caesar salad the main course if you’re going to the trouble of making it? About four servings can be made with the addition of protein on top. What about these?

  • The traditional restaurant main dish, Chicken Caesar Salad, is topped with grilled or cooked chicken.
  • To make a Salmon Caesar Salad, simply add cooked salmon (either poached or grilled).
  • You may make a Shrimp Caesar Salad by including shrimp that has been sautéed, grilled, or skewered.
  • Caesar salad with chickpeas is a vegetarian alternative that can be dressed with seasoned or crispy chickpeas.

MORE PREPARATION STYLES ARE AVAILABLE, SUCH AS GRILLED, KALE, VEGAN, AND OTHERS.

Some other creative takes on the traditional Caesar salad are listed below.

  • Make it grilled: grilled romaine lettuce and grilled avocado add major flavor to this Grilled Caesar Salad.
  • Use kale in this recipe: The kale in our Caesar salad is bright green and the breadcrumbs are sprinkled on top. Simply irresistible!
  • Make it vegan with our Vegan Caesar Salad, topped with savory capers and our amazing Vegan Caesar Dressing. Delicious!

Free of fishy ingredients like anchovy paste. To make the croutons gluten-free, simply substitute gluten-free bread. For a vegan option, try Vegan Caesar Dressing.

QUICK GLANCES

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 medium garlic clove, minced or grated
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste or Worcestershire sauce (or omit)
  • ¼ teaspoon each kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

FOR THE CAESAR SALAD

  • 1 recipe home made CROUTONS
  • 3 romaine hearts* (or 1 large head romaine)
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese shavings

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Make the Homemade Croutons, but instead of cutting the bread into cubes, rip it into pieces.
  • To make the dressing, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk them together. Keep leftovers in a sealed jar for up to a week in the fridge.
  • Tear the romaine leaves (or chop them) into small pieces for the salad. Add shaved Parmesan, croutons, and dressing to taste, then serve.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS

  • Total fat 18.5g
  • Saturated Fat 4.5g
  • Total Carbohydrate 12.2g
  • Dietary Fiber 1g
  • Sugars 2.6g
  • Protein 8.1g
  • Vitamin A 127.3µg
  • Vitamin C 3.1mg
  • Calcium 186.6mg
  • Iron 1mg
  • Vitamin D 0.1µg
  • Magnesium 16mg
  • Potassium 134.7mg
  • Vitamin B6 0.1mg
  • Vitamin B12 0.3µg

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