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Under 30 minFrenchLunchStarterMain courseDinner

Classic Caesar Salad

The salad that divides people into two groups: those who are scared of anchovies and those who've figured it out. Crispy romaine, golden homemade croutons, parmesan shavings and a creamy dressing that has nothing to do with the bottled stuff. Spoiler: you can't taste the anchovies. They just make everything better.
Classic Caesar Salad
Prep
20 min
Cook
10 min
Total
30 min
Difficulty
Easy

Method

  1. 1
    Cut the bread into cubes of about 2 cm. Rub them with a halved garlic clove and drizzle with olive oil. Toast in a pan or in the oven at 200°C (390°F) for 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
    💡 Tip
    The croutons should be golden and crispy on the outside but still slightly soft inside. Too hard and dry and they damage the leaves and are unpleasant to eat.
  2. 2
    Crush the anchovies and the 2 remaining garlic cloves into a fine paste. Mix with the egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the 60ml of olive oil in a thin stream while whisking vigorously until you get a smooth, emulsified dressing. Stir in the grated parmesan. Taste, season with salt and pepper.
    💡 Tip
    Don't fear the anchovies: once mixed into the dressing, their flavour completely blends in. They add depth and umami, not a fishy taste. That's the secret of the real Caesar dressing.
  3. 3
    Tear or cut the romaine leaves into pieces. Pat them dry thoroughly with a tea towel or salad spinner.
    💡 Tip
    Wet leaves dilute the dressing and it won't cling. Drying the romaine thoroughly is non-negotiable for a good Caesar salad.
  4. 4
    Pour the dressing over the romaine and toss well to coat every leaf. Add the parmesan shavings and croutons. Serve immediately.
    💡 Tip
    Dress just before serving, never in advance. A Caesar salad that sits for 10 minutes becomes a soup.

Tips & variations

Add a sliced pan-fried chicken breast on top to make it a full main course. It's the best-known and most filling version.

The dressing can be made in advance and keeps for 2 days in the fridge. The croutons too (in an airtight container). Assemble the salad at the last moment.

Anchovy-free version: replace with 1 tsp of miso paste + 1 tsp of soy sauce. It's not the same thing, but the result is still very good.

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