Caesar Salad

Wash some romaine lettuce and shave a pile of parmesan—it's time to make a classic Caesar salad! From layered salad to pasta salad to breakfast salad to strawberry pretzel salad to salad pizza, there is almost no meal that can't be turned into a creative, delicious, ingredient-packed salad. This salad, however, is celebrated for its simplicity. It's just lettuce, croutons, and cheese; almost all of the iconic flavor lies in the coating of creamy, garlicky dressing. Making your own Caesar dressing at home is as simple as cranking up a blender, and the results are way better than any of the bottled stuff.

What is Caesar salad?

Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant and restaurant owner, created this salad in 1924 in Tijuana, Mexico. Typically, the salad has romaine lettuce, shredded parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons, and vibrantly flavored dressing. In this recipe, the lettuce is chopped into bite-size pieces—sometimes the leaves are eaten whole, delicately picked up with the diner’s fingers. The cheese is blended into the dressing, baked onto the crispy homemade croutons, and shaved over the salad to utilize parmesan's different textures. The croutons can be store-bought to save time, but they're worth making on your own here. They're crispy, cheesy deliciousness!

What are the ingredients of Caesar salad dressing?

This dressing uses a countertop blender to easily mince up the garlic and emulsify the egg yolk into the olive oil for a thick but still pourable dressing. Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce give the dressing all of its savory and bright notes. The slightly spicy flecks of freshly ground black pepper are also a must! The number one question restaurant goers ask their waiters is whether their Caesar dressing is fishy. Ree Drummond actually prefers her Caesar salad dressing with plenty of anchovies and no egg yolk for a savory, vinaigrette-style dressing. This recipe leaves plenty of room for variation; just taste as you go. Don't like anchovies? Skip 'em. Prefer grainy mustard over Dijon? Spoon it in. Want more cheese? Ooh yes!

Do all Caesar dressings have anchovies?

Not all Caesar dressings are created equal. Since its creation a century ago, Caesar dressing has been made many different ways. Some versions, like this one, have anchovies, while some skip that ingredient. Don't hesitant to blend them into your dressing. Beyond the uniquely savory flavor they add (not fishy), you won't even know they're there.

Why are my croutons not crispy?

When baking croutons, it's important to not overcrowd the baking sheet. Be sure to use a baking sheet that's plenty large so that the croutons aren't piled on top of each other, or even touching. That way, each one will have the chance to crisp up on all sides. 

Does Caesar dressing contain raw eggs?

Understandably, the idea of consuming raw eggs makes people nervous. However, for the classically thick and creamy dressing Caesar salad is known for, it's an essential ingredient. Make sure to use pasteurized whole eggs which have been heated briefly so they are safer to consume raw. They are found in most grocery stores. You can also coddle the egg by first bringing a small pot of water to a boil. Submerge a room-temperature egg in the boiling water for no more than 1 minute. Immediately chill the egg in an ice bath and use like any other egg.