A Caesar salad is a classic dish that never goes out of style. It features crisp romaine lettuce tossed with a creamy and tangy dressing, crunchy croutons, and shaved parmesan cheese. It’s simple, satisfying, and easy to make at home with fresh ingredients.
The secret to a great Caesar salad is the dressing. You can make your own from scratch with a few basic ingredients: garlic, anchovies, egg yolks, lemon juice, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, salt and pepper. The dressing is rich and flavorful, with a hint of lemon and anchovy. You can adjust the amount of anchovies to your taste, or use anchovy paste instead of whole fillets.
To make the dressing, you need to mash the garlic and salt together until they form a paste. Then add the anchovies and mash them too. Whisk in the egg yolks, lemon juice and zest, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Finally, slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
The dressing can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also add some grated parmesan cheese to the dressing for extra flavor.
To make the salad, you need to chop and wash the romaine lettuce and dry it well. You can use a salad spinner or a clean towel to remove any excess moisture. The lettuce should be cold and crisp for the best texture.
You also need to make some croutons from day-old bread. You can tear the bread by hand or cut it into cubes. Toss the bread with some olive oil, salt and pepper and bake it in the oven until golden and crisp.
To assemble the salad, toss the lettuce with some of the dressing in a large bowl. Sprinkle some chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese over the salad. Top with some shaved parmesan cheese and croutons. Serve immediately or chill until ready to eat.
Enjoy this classic Caesar salad as a side dish or a main course. You can also add some grilled chicken or fish for extra protein. It’s a delicious way to enjoy fresh greens and homemade dressing.
