Description

This Classic Caesar Salad recipe features crisp romaine lettuce tossed with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing, topped with crunchy garlic croutons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Perfect as a light meal or a side dish, this salad blends savory anchovy paste, tangy lemon juice, and rich Parmesan for an authentic flavor that’s easy to prepare in 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

Croutons

1/2 French Baguette (cut in half, sliced into 1/4″ thick slices)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic (minced)

Caesar Salad Dressing

3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salad

1 large romaine lettuce
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded or shaved)

Instructions

Prepare Croutons: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the sliced French baguette halves into a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix the extra virgin olive oil with 2 cloves of minced garlic. Drizzle this mixture evenly over the bread slices and toss until all pieces are coated.
Bake Croutons: Arrange the coated bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the croutons are lightly golden and crisp. Remove and set aside to cool.
Make the Caesar Salad Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the minced garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir well until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
Prepare the Lettuce: Rinse and dry the romaine lettuce thoroughly. Chop it into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large serving bowl.
Assemble the Salad: Sprinkle the chopped lettuce with shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese. Add the cooled garlic croutons on top. Drizzle about half of the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Add more dressing if desired for a balanced flavor.
Serve: Serve the salad immediately to maintain the freshness and crispness of the ingredients.

Notes

For best results, use stale or day-old bread to make croutons as they crisp up better.
If anchovy paste is not available, anchovy fillets finely minced can be used as a substitute.
Make sure to dry the romaine lettuce thoroughly to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
This salad is best served fresh; avoid preparing too far in advance to maintain crispness.
You can adjust the amount of dressing to your preference, adding more or less as desired.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Classic Caesar Salad, Caesar Salad Dressing, Garlic Croutons, Romaine Lettuce Salad, Homemade Caesar Dressing