Description
Classic Caesar Salad featuring crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy homemade croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese, and a tangy, creamy Caesar dressing made from scratch.
Ingredients
Scale
Croutons
- 4 cups cubed crusty bread
- Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
- Sea salt for sprinkling
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salad
- 1 pound romaine lettuce (about 2 medium heads), chopped or torn into bite-size pieces
- ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper for garnish
Instructions
- Make the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the bread cubes on the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and toss to coat. Spread them evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, grated garlic, Worcestershire sauce, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until smooth. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If the dressing is too thick, add water one teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Season to taste.
- Assemble the salad: Place the chopped romaine lettuce in a large bowl. Add half of the dressing, half of the croutons, and half of the shaved Parmesan cheese. Toss to coat evenly. Add more dressing as desired and toss until the salad is coated to your liking. Season with freshly ground black pepper, then top with the remaining croutons, remaining shaved Parmesan cheese, and additional black pepper for garnish.
Notes
- This Caesar salad can be served as a delicious side dish or a light lunch.
- The dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Use day-old crusty bread to make crisp croutons that hold texture well.
- For a dairy-free version, omit Parmesan cheese and substitute with a vegan cheese alternative.
- If Worcestershire sauce is not available, a splash of soy sauce can be used for umami flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
