Caesar Salad With Dressing

This classic Caesar Salad Recipe has all the things that you love, crisp romaine lettuce, cheesy garlic croutons, and the best Caesar salad dressing. 

The original Caesar salad recipe has an interesting origin. It has Italian roots in that its creator, Caesar Cardini, was an Italian immigrant who opened a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico.

It was assembled and served tableside at Cardini’s hotel restaurant Caesar’s at the Hotel Caesar. The original recipe did not contain anchovies.

Most modern versions of this salad dressing all contain anchovies. It’s unclear why or when anchovies were added to the recipe. But most will agree that the anchovies give Caesar salad its signature flavor.

Why This Recipe Works

• Perfectly fresh and crispy romaine hearts.
• Savory Garlic and Cheese Croutons are so good you can’t stop eating them. 
• Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing that comes together in minutes. 

What You’ll Need

This umami-packed Caesar Salad Dressing gets its signature flavor from the salty briny anchovies, garlic, and Worchestershire sauce. The raw egg yolk is imperative to add flavor and texture to this classic salad dressing recipe.

• Romaine hearts: 3 to 4 extra fresh romaine hearts. A Caesar salad has one main ingredient and its romaine hearts. Make sure you use only the crispest inner leaves for this salad.

For The Homemade Croutons

You can always use store-bought croutons instead. However, I strongly encourage you to give this recipe a try. There is nothing that compares to freshly toasted garlic and cheese croutons. Heck, make a double batch to use on all of your salads this week.

• Country bread with crusts. Cut or tear the bread into 1-inch pieces. You’ll want about 3 cups.
• Olive oil and minced garlic cloves are used to make fragrant garlic oil. The oil is used for toasting the croutons, and the reserved garlic will be used in the salad dressing.
• Parmesan cheese, shredded. Parmesan cheese adds a toasty, nutty flavor to the bread.
• Salt: Add just a touch of kosher or fine sea salt to the bread before baking.

Caesar Salad Dressing

• Anchovy fillets packed in oil drained. Don’t skip the anchovies they are the reason that Caesar dressing tastes so good. [note 2]
• Reserved garlic from making the croutons.
• Egg yolk
• Fresh lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Worcestershire sauce
• Parmesan
• Vegetable oil. I usually use canola oil.
• Olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper

Special Equipment

Having the right tools makes every job easier. Here are a few items that will help you pull off this recipe like a true expert. 

• Immersion blender (affiliate link)
• Mesh strainer (affiliate link)
• Rimmed baking sheet (affiliate link)
• Large metal or glass bowl (affiliate link)

Steps

1. Make the croutons.
2. Prepare the lettuce.
3. Make the Caesar dressing. 
4. Assemble the Caesar salad. 

Make the Croutons

One extra step in this croutons recipe will give you the best-tasting garlic croutons ever to grace your tastebuds.

Garlic gets bitter if it is browned too deeply. Using garlic-infused oil allows you to add garlic flavor to the croutons and toast them until they are ultra crispy without getting burnt garlic. This mellow garlic flavor, in combination with toasted parmesan cheese, make the croutons super tasty. 

1. Preheat the oven to 300℉.
2. Make a garlic-infused olive oil. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil to a small bowl and add the minced garlic to the olive oil.
3. Stir the garlic into the olive oil and set it aside while you prepare the bread.
4. Strain the oil off the garlic using a fine mesh strainer. Using the back of a spoon, press as much oil out to the minced garlic as possible. Reserve the minced garlic to use in the salad dressing.
5. Toss the bread in the garlic oil and add ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese; toss again. 
6. Spread the seasoned bread onto a baking sheet. 
7. Toast the croutons in the oven until they are crisp and golden brown. Toss them halfway through cooking. As soon as the croutons come out of the oven, season them with a sprinkle of salt and fresh ground black pepper.
8. Allow them to cool before serving.

Prepare the Lettuce

Crispy romaine hearts are essential to a perfect Caesar salad. Start with 3 to 4 fresh romaine hearts. 

1. Peel off any of the outer leaves that have any wilting or softness. 
2. Wash the lettuce. Separate the leaves and wash them well in cold water. 
3. Dry the romaine leaves by laying them between layers of paper towels. 

Make Caesar Salad Dressing

The easiest way to make a salad dressing is with an immersion blender. You can also use a blender or a whisk if you don’t have one. 

1. Combine the ingredients. Add the egg yolk, anchovies, garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to a mason jar. Cover this mixture with vegetable oil.
2. Emulsify. Use an immersion blender to emulsify this mixture until it is smooth and creamy. [note 1]
3. Whisk. Transfer the emulsified dressing to a large bowl and whisk in the olive oil and a little fresh ground black pepper. 

Assemble The Caesar Salad

Now it’s time to eat! 

The croutons and the dressing can be made days ahead of time. Assemble this salad right before serving. 

1. Tear the lettuce into large chunks. 
2. Add the lettuce to the bowl that contains the dressing. 
3. Gently toss the lettuce and the dressing. 
4. Plate the dressed lettuce and top with generous croutons and shaved parmesan cheese. 

Serving Suggestions

Caesar salad makes a great side salad for almost any grilled protein. You can also serve this salad as a main dish with your favorite protein. Grilled chicken or baked salmon is both delicious additions. 

Hungry For More Salad Recipes? 

Fresh, crisp salads can be a refreshing side or a fast, easy, no-cook weeknight dinner. Here are a few of our favorites.

• Summer salads like my Green Goddess Salad, Zucchini and Corn Orzo Salad, Mexican Corn Salad (aka Esquites), or my Southern Coleslaw that goes with all things grilled.
• Fall Salads like my Fall Kale and Apple Harvest Salad, Couscous Salad, or the Classic Blue Cheese Wedge Salad.

What to Serve With Caesar Salad

A cool and crisp salad is perfect with grilled chicken or baked chicken thighs. And don’t forget you’re favorite pizza or pasta recipe.