The Classic Caesar Salad and Why Everyone Loves It
A true crowd-pleaser, Caesar salad has something to offer to everyone! So refreshing without being too heavy, but creamy and packed with little bursts of umami from the parmesan and anchovies, what’s not to love? This Caesar salad recipe is so good that you can let it shine on its own or have it brighten up your next meal, like this Grilled Skirt Steak with Blistered Tomatoes and Burrata. Crispy, green lettuce, rich caesar dressing, and perfectly toasted breadcrumbs make for the best caesar salad recipe. Of course, you can make this recipe your own by adding more or less anchovies, switching up the type of leafy greens, or adding a teaspoon of Dijon if you’re feeling a little crazy.
What is Caesar Salad Made of?
To obtain the best Caesar salad, you need a perfect balance of freshness from the greens, crunchiness, and crispiness from the crouton, or, in this case, breadcrumbs and creaminess from the dressing. Make sure not to skip on the Parmesan: we love the subtle nuttiness it adds.
Caesar salad is made of these simple ingredients:
Romaine lettuce or another leafy green as in our Kale Caesar
Caesar dressing
Aged Parmesan
Toasty breadcrumbs
The Secret to The Best Caesar Salad Dressing
No, it’s not the anchovies in the caesar that takes the cake, although they do come in a close second. Instead, it’s the egg yolks that help form a stable emulsion. As lemon juice and oil usually don’t combine, adding egg yolks makes for a smooth and nicely emulsified dressing. In our Caesar Salad dressing recipe, freshly squeezed lemon, cracked pepper, salty anchovies, your favorite neutral oil, a touch of Worcestershire, and egg yolks combine to give you the creamiest melt-in-your-mouth caesar dressing. We’d like to think it’s the perfect complement to the aged Parmesan, fresh lettuce, and golden brown bread crumbs, with a zingy but not-too-overpowering punch from the garlic and anchovies. Although some recipes call to remove the egg yolk and replace it with mayo, we find, for an original caesar salad, you’ll want to keep them.
How to Make Caesar Salad
Chop the Romaine! The ideal recipe for caesar salad calls for using equal amounts of inner crispy leaves and outer leafy green leaves for the best crunch. By cutting the romaine into bite-size pieces, the lettuce will perfectly hold the creamy Caesar dressing.
Toast the Breadcrumbs. This is our favorite way to elevate Caesar salad in less time than making homemade croutons AND without sacrificing texture!
Make the Caesar Dressing! The holy grail of the salad - creamy, bright, and garlicky with anchovies and fresh cracked black pepper.
Arrange the Caesar Salad! Toss the lettuce with fresh grated Parmesan, the caesar dressing, and toasted breadcrumbs, but make sure you save some for the top! Sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and the remaining golden brown breadcrumbs.
The Simple Tools You’ll Need for The Best Caesar
Mason Jar or Large, Narrow Jar
Summer Salad Recipes You Need Now
We even compiled a list of our 30 favorite salads in our Best Salad Recipes ever or, for a similar take on Caesar, give the following a try:
The Best Caesar Salad Ever?
Let us know how your Caesar Salad turned out! Snap a photo of it and maybe even a video of the toasty breadcrumbs and delicious crunch. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!
