Classic Caesar Salad (Printable)

Crisp romaine with creamy dressing, croutons, and Parmesan. Ready in 20 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
02 - 2 cups croutons, preferably homemade or artisanal
03 - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

→ Caesar Dressing

04 - 1 large egg yolk or 1 tablespoon mayonnaise for egg-free option
05 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
06 - 2 anchovy fillets, finely minced (optional)
07 - 1 garlic clove, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Whisk together egg yolk (or mayonnaise), Dijon mustard, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl until smooth and fully incorporated.
02 - Slowly drizzle olive oil into the mixture while whisking continuously to create a stable emulsion. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Place chopped romaine lettuce in a large salad bowl. Add dressing gradually while tossing to ensure even coating without overdressing.
04 - Gently fold in croutons to maintain their crunch while distributing throughout the salad.
05 - Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately to preserve crisp texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The homemade dressing puts restaurant versions to shame
  • Comes together in under 20 minutes with pantry staples
  • Endlessly adaptable for different tastes and dietary needs
02 -
  • Overdressed lettuce becomes soggy within minutes, so start with less dressing than you think you need
  • The dressing can be made ahead and refrigerated, but bring it to room temperature before using
  • Room temperature ingredients create a more stable emulsion than cold ones
03 -
  • Whisking the dressing in a wide bowl rather than a deep container makes emulsifying much easier
  • A microplane makes the finest Parmesan that practically melts into the dressing
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