Learn to Make Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad Recipe

By The Chef January 26, 2013

This classic salad is the perfect go-to recipe to accompany most any meal. It’s not hard to whip up, but knowing how to make a great dressing and crisp croutons turns a ho-hum Caesar into a specialty salad that folks will ask you to make again and again.

Prep Time : 15 minutes
Cook Time : 15 minutes
Yield : 6 servings

Ingredients

clove garlic, cut in half - 1
anchovy fillets, cut up* - 8
olive oil - ⅓ cup
tablespoons fresh lemon juice - 3
Worcestershire sauce - 1 teaspoon
salt - ¼ teaspoon
ground mustard - ¼ teaspoon
Freshly ground pepper - to taste
bunches romaine - 1 large or 2 small
lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces - 10 cups
Garlic Croutons - 1 cup
freshly grated Parmesan cheese - ½ cup

Instructions

1 Rub large salad bowl with cut clove of garlic for extra flavor if desired. Chop garlic and place in bowl.

2. In salad bowl, using wire whisk, mix anchovies, oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, mustard and pepper.

3. Add romaine; toss until coated. Sprinkle with croutons and cheese; toss. Serve immediately.

*2 teaspoons anchovy paste can be substituted. If you prefer, anchovies can be omitted.

Keys to Success

Rub bowl with garlic to impart a light garlic flavor to lettuce when tossed if desired.
Chop garlic pieces to add more garlic flavor to salad.
Use whisk to mix all dressing ingredients together so that oil is suspended (emulsified) with other ingredients.
Toss salad by scooping up lettuce, croutons and dressing with salad utensils or tongs in batches to get dressing onto lettuce gently without bruising or breaking leaves.