Classic Caesar Salad
There’s nothing like a fresh classic Caesar salad made at home with crisp romaine, shaved Parmesan, and crunchy homemade croutons. I can toss it together in 5 minutes, and it always tastes better than anything I’ve ordered out.
Ingredients
- 2 heads of cored romaine lettuce cut into 1 ½” pieces
- ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese
- 1 croutons recipe
- 1 Caesar dressing recipe, there will be some leftover
- coarse salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the lettuce, cheese, croutons salt, and pepper.
- Using a spoon add the desired amount of dressing to the inside of the bowl around the lettuce touching the bowl (see video).
- Thoroughly toss the greens using tongs until the lettuce, cheese, and croutons are coated in the dressing and serve.
Notes
It might seem like a small thing, but I’ve found that if the romaine is even a little wet, the dressing just slides right off and the salad loses that creamy coating. When the leaves are dry and crisp, the dressing sticks perfectly and every bite tastes the way it should.
Use fresh romaine: I go for crisp, cold romaine and avoid any wilted or soggy leaves. It gives the salad that signature crunch.
Shave real Parmigiano Reggiano: I skip the pre-grated stuff and use a block of real Parmigiano, shaved thin.
Make homemade croutons: I use leftover bread, toss it with olive oil, and bake until golden. They hold up better in the salad and taste so much fresher.
Toss gently but thoroughly: I pour the dressing around the inside of the bowl and then toss with tongs, making sure every leaf is coated without crushing the lettuce.
Make-Ahead: This recipe is meant to be eaten as soon as it is mixed with the dressing. However, it can be made the day before if the lettuce, dressing, cheese, and croutons are kept separate and covered in the refrigerator.
How to Store: Place each ingredient in its own plastic container or bag and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This recipe will not freeze.
Nutrition
Calories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 5gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 889mgPotassium: 54mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 678IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 1mg