Caesar salad is a popular salad that typically consists of romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and anchovies. It is named after its creator, Caesar Cardini, an Italian-American chef who invented the salad in the 1920s in Tijuana, Mexico.
The salad is usually prepared by tossing the torn or chopped romaine lettuce with the dressing and then topping it with Parmesan cheese and croutons. Some variations may include additional ingredients like grilled chicken, bacon, cherry tomatoes, or avocado.
Traditionally, the dressing is made by mashing anchovies and garlic together, then adding olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. However, modern versions of the dressing often omit the anchovies or use anchovy paste instead.
Caesar salad is a versatile dish and can be served as a side salad or as a main course by adding protein like grilled chicken or shrimp. It is enjoyed in many parts of the world and is a popular menu item in restaurants and cafes.
Caesar salad
Ingredients
- – 1 head of romaine lettuce washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
- – 1 cup croutons
- – 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the dressing:
- – 2 cloves garlic minced
- – 2 anchovy fillets mashed (or 1 teaspoon anchovy paste)
- – 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- – 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- – 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- – 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- – Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional additional ingredients:
- – Grilled chicken breast sliced
- – Cooked shrimp
- – Cherry tomatoes halved
- – Bacon cooked and crumbled
- – Avocado sliced
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, combine the torn romaine lettuce, croutons, and grated Parmesan cheese.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the minced garlic, mashed anchovy fillets (or anchovy paste), olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Alternatively, you can use a blender or food processor to emulsify the dressing ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat all the lettuce leaves.
- If desired, add any optional ingredients like grilled chicken, shrimp, cherry tomatoes, bacon, or avocado to the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve the Caesar salad immediately, garnishing with additional Parmesan cheese and croutons if desired.
