Our spin on the classic caesar salad with dressing. So easy to throw together and is full of rich flavors, perfectly creamy dressing that can be used in many of your favorite salads.
Featuring eggs, crunchy croutons, and tomatoes - a perfect salad for any occasion.
Why We Love This
- A very easy base for Caesar salad to customize even further by adding protein such as crispy chicken strips, smoked or cooked salmon, shrimp, nuts.
- Crunchy, bright, and full of amazing flavor!
- Creamy Caesar Salad dressing made from scratch easily, iss thick and creamy without overpowering vinegar flavor and addition of eggs!
- Very fulfilling and great for on-the-go lunches. Pack the salad in a food container , keep the sauce separately in a small bag or container. Take it with you to work and when ready, simply pour in the sauce and enjoy.
Ingredients
Anchovies - for that tasty impeccable umami flavor! I suggest using anchovies or sardines in oil. Take them out of the tin and drain the excess oil on a piece of paper towel. You only need 1 and you need to mash it really well into a paste-like consistency. But if you can’t stand the smell, it’s fine, leave it out and make sure to add a generous drizzle of Worcestershire sauce.
Lettuce - any lettuce will work but the crunchier the better! Romaine lettuce and kale are the winners!
Tomatoes - cocktail, cherry, plum, or other flavorful tomatoes. Not a fan? Add cucumber or bell peppers instead!
Mayonnaise - the essential ingredients for the creamy caesar dressing, I am sorry to say this but there are no great substitutes for this that will even come close.
Olive oil - good quality virgin olive oil will give extra creaminess to the dressing if whisked and blended properly with the remaining dressing ingredients.
Parmesan - Yes I love to add parmesan to the sauce and more on top when serving. But if you want to achieve a smoother texture, reduce the parmesan amount in the sauce at least to ½ cups or less.
For the full list of ingredients please scroll down to the Recipe Card.
Equipment
Instructions
Mash the sardine in a small bowl or mason jar. Add all dressing ingredients.
Whisk to combine and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour for the flavors to blend.
Meanwhile, combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl. When the dressing is refrigerated enough, give it a good stir and pour over the salad.
Garnish with lemon slices, croutons, more parmesan shavings, black cracked pepper and dig in!
Tips
- Sugar - I know some people add sugar to the dressing and it tastes great altogether but is totally optional. It is added not for sweetness but for, in fact, to intensify all other ingredient flavors.
- However, a good thing to remember, Caesar salad dressing is high in calories, and be cautious when adding sweeteners. But if you do, you’ll only need a pinch here!
- Whisk - make sure to whisk vigorously when adding the oil to the dressing. or an even easier way is to place all the ingredients in a medium jar, close the lid and shake it well.
- The homemade caesar salad with dressing should be consumed right away or at least the same day as the lettuce and veggies will become soggy once mixed with the creamy dressing.
- Make-ahead tips - want to enjoy the salad later? No worries, chop the lettuce and tomatoes, boil the eggs, and whisk up the creamy caesar dressing. Refrigerate everything separately for up to 2 days and when ready to eat, combine all.
Serving Suggestions
I am sure you are wondering what does Caesar salad go with? The possibilities are endless! Here are our top suggestions that we have used in the past:
- Generously seasoned with garlic or herbs roasted chicken. Tip: use leftover chicken from last night’s dinner!
- Crispy chicken breasts fried in panko or regular breadcrumbs. Cut into strips and top up your Caesar salad with it.
- Make Caesar Salad bagels, wraps, sandwiches, and toasts.
- Seafood. Grilled or smoked salmon, grilled tuna, cod or lemon garlic shrimp.
- Mix things up a little and swap romaine lettuce to kale or spinach.
Other add-ons to consider:
- Grated carrots
- Chopped Pine nuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
- Blue cheese cubes
- Pasta
- Steamed or baked brussel sprouts
- Dried fruit
- Nuts and seeds
FAQ
The original Caesar dressing a long time ago was not white and creamy and did not contain anchovies. It was later added to a new version of Caesar Salad along with eggs.
Anchovies give that impeccable umami flavor to the dish but not everyone loves the smell of anchovies. You can easily substitute anchovies with sardines, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce (add to the sauce but don’t smell it!), soy sauce, shrimp paste, miso paste, kalamata olives paste.
Caesar salad may separate if you may have added too much olive oil and not whisked well. Olive oil should be added while vigorously stirring the rest of the ingredients in a smaller bowl or even better a glass jar.
Thank you for reading,
Rita
Easy Lunch Recipes
Did you make this Honey Mustard Sauce? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below. Thank you!
Caesar Salad With Dressing
Ingredients
Caesar Salad
- 4 eggs cooked through
- 10 Cherry tomatoes cut in half
- Lemon wedges or slices for serving
- 5 cups Lettuce of choice chopped
- Salt and pepper
- Parmesan shavings for serving
- Herb Croutons for serving
Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 smoked sardine/anchovies backbone removed
- 3-5 tablespoons of good quality olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove minced
- ¾ cup parmesan grated
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons of sour cream
- ½ teaspoon dijon
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Mash the sardine in a large bowl. Add all the remaining dressing ingredients. Stir to combine and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour for the flavors to blend.
- Meanwhile, combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl. When the dressing is refrigerated enough, give it a good stir and pour over the salad.
- Garnish with lemon slices, croutons, more parmesan shavings, black cracked pepper and dig in!
Notes
- Dressing - you should end up with almost 1 & ½ cups of the ready-made Caesar salad dressing. You don't have to add all of it to the salad, start with a little drizzle in the beginning and see if you need more. The most common serving size for dressing is 2 tablespoons.
- Nutrition - calories mentioned are per 1 & ½ cups of caesar dressing.
- Salad ingredients are for 4 smaller salad portions and you will not use the whole caesar salad dressing.
- Properly sealed dressing stored in a jar or food container will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- What can I substitute for anchovies? Anchovies give that impeccable umami flavor to the dish but not everyone loves the smell of anchovies. You can easily substitute anchovies with sardines, Worcestershire sauce, fish sauce (add to the sauce but don’t smell it!), soy sauce, shrimp paste, miso paste, kalamata olives paste.
- Why is my Caesar dressing separating? Caesar salad may separate if you may have added too much olive oil and not whisked well. Olive oil should be added while vigorously stirring the rest of the ingredients in a smaller bowl or even better a glass jar.
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