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Caesar Salad

A fresh, crunchy, and satisfying Caesar Salad with a bold garlicky dressing, salty Parmesan, and toasty croutons, perfect for busy weeknights and lazy weekends.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the dressing
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Squeezed for flavor
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard For a gentle tang
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce For depth of flavor
  • 1 clove garlic Grated, use fresh for the best flavor
  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste Optional, traditional ingredient
  • 1/3 cup olive oil To emulsify the dressing
  • to taste Salt and black pepper
For the salad
  • 1 head Romaine lettuce Choose firm, heavy heads with crisp, pale-green ribs
  • 1 wedge Parmesan cheese Shaved over the salad
  • 2 cups day-old bread Cubed for croutons
  • to taste Olive oil For tossing the croutons
  • to taste Salt For seasoning croutons
  • to taste Garlic powder Optional for croutons

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the romaine lettuce leaves in cold water and dry them thoroughly. Chill in the fridge to make them extra crisp.
  2. Cube the day-old bread and toss it with olive oil, salt, and garlic powder. Toast on a sheet pan at 375°F until golden and crunchy, about 10 to 12 minutes. Let them cool.
Make the dressing
  1. In a bowl, combine lemon juice, Dijon mustard, grated garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and anchovy paste. Whisk to blend.
  2. While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil until emulsified.
  3. Season the dressing to taste with salt and black pepper, adjusting with more lemon juice or water if needed.
Assemble the salad
  1. In a large bowl, toss the romaine with a few spoonfuls of dressing until each leaf shines. Add more dressing as desired.
  2. Sprinkle the croutons into the salad and shave Parmesan on top. Toss again, taste, and finish with cracked black pepper.
  3. Serve immediately to prevent wilting.

Notes

To keep lettuce crisp, wash in cold water, dry completely, chill before serving, and dress just before eating. Store croutons separately to maintain crispiness.