Classic Homemade Caesar Salad

Enjoy the best classic Caesar salad with creamy dressing. Perfect for impressing guests, this recipe balances crisp romaine lettuce with a rich, tangy dressing made from anchovy fillets, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a mayo base. Perfect as a side salad, or top it with grilled chicken for a hearty main dish.

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dinner salad, side salad

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 287kcal

Author: Jennifer Locklin

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Ingredients

2 heads of romaine lettuce cored and cut into 1 ½” pieces
½ cup of shaved parmesan cheese
2 cups Croutons

Dressing:

2 small garlic cloves minced
1 2-oz can anchovies in olive oil, undrained
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice from one lemon
2 teaspoons Grey Poupon Country Style Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon Tabasco hot sauce
¾ cup mayonnaise best quality such as Hellmann's Real
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

For the Dressing:

Combine all dressing ingredients in a mini food processor and blend until smooth. Adjust to taste. If you don't have a food processor, whisking works too. Store the dressing in the fridge; it'll keep for about a week in an airtight container.
Note: Anchovy paste can be found near the canned tuna in the supermarket.

For the Salad:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the romaine, parmesan, croutons, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Drizzle the desired amount of Caesar dressing around the inside of the bowl, allowing it to coat the lettuce.
Toss the salad thoroughly with tongs until the lettuce, cheese, and croutons are evenly coated with the dressing.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Make-Ahead Tip: For best results, mix the salad just before serving. However, you can prepare the components a day ahead and store the lettuce, dressing, cheese, and croutons separately in the refrigerator.
Storage: Keep each ingredient in its own container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This recipe is not suitable for freezing.
Adjustments: Feel free to add more dressing, croutons, or parmesan cheese to suit your taste.
Serving: Serve the salad immediately after tossing with the dressing for the best texture and flavor.

Nutrition

*Nutrition information is automatically calculated based on ingredient data and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient options are provided, the first listed is used for calculation. Optional ingredients and garnishes are not included in the nutrition analysis.