Caesar Dressing

The Legend of How Caesar Salad Dressing Was Invented

Authentic Caesar dressing is one of the most popular salad side kicks in the world, and goes back over a hundred years to an Italian restaurant owner named Caesar Cardini. The story goes that one night, he was running low on ingredients in the kitchen and threw together what he had left: Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, raw egg, some stalks of Romaine, Parmesan cheese, and croutons. He put it all together at customers’ tables to add some style. The result was so popular that he made it a permanent menu item! And now, a century later, people are still clamoring for the irresistibly savory dressing.

So You Want to Know What’s in Caesar Salad Dressing?

As popular as Caesar salad dressing is, you might be surprised to find out what’s actually in it. Definitely not your average salad dressing, it’s full of flavor-packed ingredients that give it its distinctive taste. And yes, the rumors are true, caesar dressing has anchovies! This is actually an essential ingredient, and gives the dressing a super-charge of mouthwatering umami flavor. Pro tip, you can use anchovies to amp up the flavor in other dishes too, like tomato sauce! Let’s take a look at what you’ll need for the best homemade Caesar salad dressing.

• Egg yolks. This is a crucial ingredient, since it helps to keep the lemon and oil mixed together, because normally they separate when they are combined.

• Anchovy filets

• Garlic

• Lemon

• Salt

• Neutral oil (avocado oil is a great one)

• Worcestershire sauce. This brings some complexity to the dressing, and contains a lot of flavorful ingredients like vinegar, tamarind, and chili pepper extract. It helps put the tang in tangy Caesar dressing!

• Freshly cracked black pepper

How To Make Our Easy Caesar Dressing Recipe

We promise, once you make caesar dressing at home,you won’t go back! It’s easy, breezy, and oh-so-tasty! All you have to do once you have the ingredients is blend, and you’ll be on your way to the best traditional Caesar salad dressing you’ve ever made!

1. Add your egg yolks, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, and salt to a tall, wide mouth mason jar.

2. Bust out your handy, dandy immersion blender and set the blade at the bottom of the jar. Keep it in place and hit that blend button until everything comes together.

3. Add the oil in a slow and steady stream, keeping the blender flat on the bottom of the jar. If the dressing starts to get too thick, slowly lift the blender up to mix in the remaining oil. Continue lifting and lowering the blade until your desired thickness is achieved.

4. Add in the rest of the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper. Blend it in and you're done!

What’s the Difference Between Caesar Dressing and Ranch Dressing?

Caesar dressing and ranch dressing may look similar, but make no mistake, they are very different. Ranch is light and herby, while Caesar dressing is zesty and strong. This is because ranch dressing has more mild ingredients, like mayonnaise, parsley, and dill. Because of its more mild flavor, ranch is great to use as a dipping sauce for anything from veggies to french fries. Caesar salad has a distinct flavor profile, so it shouldn't be paired with just anything. If you want to get creative with your homemade Caesar dressing, it does make a great marinade for chicken!

Caesar Dressing Beyond the Salad

This easy Caesar dressing can be used for more than just salad! Because it contains citrus and vinegar, it makes a great marinade for meat. These acidic ingredients help break down and tenderize meat while that delicious Caesar flavor soaks into it. You can even use Caesar dressing instead of mayonnaise on sandwiches or burgers for extra flavor!

Tools You’ll Need

• Immersion blender

• Tall, wide mouth jar

• Sharp knife

• Citrus squeezer

• Measuring spoons

Wondering What to Pair With Our Easy Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe?

• Garlic Bread

• Best Baked Potato Recipe

• Creamy Polenta Recipe

• Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Ditch the Bottle for The Best Caesar Dressing and Get Blending!

Once you’ve tried making your own Caesar dressing, you’re never going to bother buying premade again! And when you have a jar of tangy Caesar dressing in your fridge, get creative and show us how you use it at @themodernproper and #themodernproper!