Not all Caesar salads are made the same! If you want to have delicious Caesar every time, there is no better way than to make your own. Simply learn this recipe for classic Caesar salad made from scratch, and enjoy the perfect Caesar whenever you want.
This Caesar has four main ingredients; dressing, croutons, cheese, and lettuce. Once you have all four, simply combine them and you have your salad. You’ll want to combine them immediately before eating, otherwise the croutons will become soggy and ruin the experience.
Ingredients
Lettuce
Romaine is the ideal lettuce to use for Caesar salad, but other types of neutral-flavored lettuce, like iceberg for example, can suffice in a pinch.
Parmesan Cheese
The classic Caesar salad always has some parm. Finely grated, coarsely grated, or in thin slices – however you want to do it. I prefer to the Sartori brand.
Using a traditional cheese grater can be dangerous to your fingers! Make your life easier with a rotary cheese grater like this one from OXO Good Grips.
Croutons
Croutons add a great crunch and cuts through the tart flavors of the dressing and cheese. If you have some bread, it is easy to make croutons. They are much more tender than the store-bought variety because of the freshness. Simply tear your bread into crouton-sized pieces, toss in some olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake. Check out our full homemade crouton recipe here!
If you don’t want to make your own croutons, feel free to use store bought croutons. For this recipe, it’s best to go for a neutral flavored crouton so the flavors don’t clash. I like to use these Texas Toast croutons when I can’t make my own.
Caesar Dressing
Of all the parts of the salad, this is the part you absolutely need to get right. The dressing will make or break your Caesar salad. Many recipes use anchovies, but I find that fish sauce has a better flavor and is easier to work with.
The most key ingredients of the dressing are Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, and fish sauce. Our recipe uses mayonnaise as a base to give it a creamy texture and to cut some of the acidity of the other ingredients. To make the perfect Caesar dressing, you’ll need eight ingredients: mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Simply mix them together and you’ve got your dressing. For the detailed recipe and measurements, check out our Caesar dressing recipe here.
Caesar Salad Made From Scratch Recipe
Start by preparing the lettuce. You’ll want to wash it thoroughly by peeling the layers one by one and rubbing them in your hands under running water. Next you’ll tear it into salad-sized pieces. I like them on the smaller side, somewhere between two and three inches.
If your romaine is slightly discolored with a reddish tint, don’t worry. It is still good to eat and won’t affect the flavor. But it could affect the aesthetic, so feel free to toss it if you so desire. I don’t use the small leaves from the center, nor do I use pieces that are mostly rib (the ribs are the thicker crunchier part near the center of each leaf). I think a good balance between leaves and ribs make for an ideal salad.
Once you’ve washed and torn your lettuce, it is important to get it as dry as possible. This can be done with paper towels, but the best tool for this is a salad spinner. If you plan to make salads, a salad spinner can be a good investment. I use this one by Cuisinart. It’s inexpensive and has great reviews.
Once your lettuce is dried, add the cheese and then the croutons. Lastly add the dressing. I prefer not to toss the salad all at once, instead opting to add the dressing as I go. Having patches of dressing seems to add a better flavor than having it evenly coated throughout the whole salad – but that’s up to you. Enjoy!
Caesar Salad Made From Scratch
Description
Caesar salad is easy to make at home, and it comes out perfect every time. No more rolling the dice on store-bought Caesar. Just follow this simple recipe and you’ll have delicious Caesar salad made from scratch any time you want.
Ingredients
2 stalks of Romain Lettuce
1/5 cup (1 oz) of Parmesan cheese (grated or shredded)
1 bowl of Croutons (see our Croutons recipe for homemade, or buy from the store)
1 cup of Caesar dressing (see our delicious Caesar dressing recipe or buy from the store)
Instructions
Wash lettuce thoroughly as you peel the layers off the stalk. Rub each leaf in your hands under running water.
Tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces, approximate 2.5X2.5 inches.
Dry lettuce thoroughly. Use a salad spinner or dab with paper towels until completely dry.
Add cheese and then add the croutons.
Serve with dressing on the side.
Notes
Rather than tossing with the dressing, it is better to add it a little at a time as you eat. This will provide the best flavor and will prevent your croutons from becoming soggy.