Introduction

Classic Caesar Salad is a timeless favorite that combines crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy homemade croutons, and a creamy, tangy dressing. Perfect as a light meal or a side dish, this salad never fails to impress with its bold flavors and satisfying textures.

Classic Caesar Salad Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

1/2 French baguette, cut in half and sliced into 1/4" thick slices
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons 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
1 large romaine lettuce
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the sliced bread in a large bowl.
Step 2: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil with 2 cloves of minced garlic. Drizzle this mixture over the bread slices and toss until evenly coated.
Step 3: Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the croutons are lightly golden and crisp. Remove and let cool.
Step 4: Prepare the Caesar dressing by combining the remaining 3 cloves minced garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Stir well and set aside.
Step 5: Rinse and dry the romaine lettuce thoroughly. Chop it and place it in a large serving bowl.
Step 6: Sprinkle the chopped lettuce with shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese. Add the cooled croutons.
Step 7: Drizzle half of the dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine. Add more dressing as needed until the salad is evenly coated.
Step 8: Serve immediately and enjoy your classic Caesar salad.

Tips & Variations

For extra flavor, toast the garlic in the olive oil over low heat before tossing with the bread slices.
Substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.
Add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a more substantial meal.
If anchovy paste is not available, finely chopped anchovy fillets or a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce alone can work as a substitute.

Storage

Store leftover salad components separately in airtight containers. Keep the croutons at room temperature to maintain crispness and refrigerate the dressing and chopped lettuce. Once mixed, Caesar salad is best enjoyed immediately, but it can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 day. Reheat croutons in the oven briefly before serving to regain crunch.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dressing ahead of time?

Yes, the Caesar dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Give it a good stir before using.

How do I prevent the lettuce from wilting?

Make sure the romaine lettuce is completely dry before tossing with the dressing. Adding the dressing just before serving also helps keep the lettuce crisp.

Classic Caesar Salad Recipe

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4.5 from 142 reviews

A classic Caesar Salad recipe featuring homemade garlic croutons baked to golden perfection and a creamy, tangy dressing made with anchovy paste, lemon juice, and Parmesan. Crisp romaine lettuce is tossed with shredded Parmesan, crunchy croutons, and a luscious Caesar dressing for a timeless starter or light meal.

Author: Tara
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Salad
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Halal

Ingredients

Scale

Croutons

1/2 French Baguette, cut in half and sliced into 1/4" thick slices
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced

Caesar Salad Dressing

3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons 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

Salad

1 large romaine lettuce
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved

Instructions

Preheat Oven for Croutons: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the croutons.
Prepare Bread for Croutons: Place the baguette slices in a large bowl, ready for seasoning.
Make Garlic Olive Oil Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil with the minced garlic and stir well to infuse the oil with garlic flavor.
Coat Bread Slices: Drizzle the garlic olive oil mixture over the bread slices and toss until all slices are evenly coated, ensuring flavorful croutons.
Bake Croutons: Arrange the coated bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until they turn lightly golden and crisp. Remove and allow to cool.
Prepare Caesar Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the minced garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Set aside.
Prepare Lettuce: Rinse the romaine lettuce thoroughly and dry it completely to prevent sogginess. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
Assemble Salad: Layer the chopped romaine in a large serving bowl. Sprinkle shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese over the lettuce. Add the cooled croutons.
Toss Salad: Drizzle half of the Caesar dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Add more dressing as desired to taste.
Serve: Serve the salad immediately for the freshest flavor and best texture.

Notes

For best results, allow croutons to cool completely before adding to the salad to keep them crunchy.
You can use freshly grated Parmesan for the dressing and shredded or shaved Parmesan for topping the salad.
If anchovy paste is not available, finely minced anchovy fillets can be used as a substitute.
Make sure to dry the romaine lettuce well after washing to avoid watering down the dressing.
Adjust the amount of dressing to your preference to keep the salad light or more creamy.

Keywords: Classic Caesar Salad, Caesar dressing, homemade croutons, garlic croutons, romaine lettuce salad, easy salad recipe