Classic Caesar Salad Recipe

There’s nothing like a delicious, easy-to-make, fresh Caesar salad recipe that is served with homemade dressing and croutons. Once you start making this at home, no restaurant will compare.

I need a couple of salads a week to make sure I’m getting some greens in me.  Some of my absolutely favorite salads are my Nicoise and my Chopped Chicken.

Caesar Salad

Caesar salad originated in Tijuana, Mexico, by an Italian named Caesar Cardini. Cardini moved to California in the early 20th century, and, like many others, during prohibition, he would often head to Tijuana for a drink. He quickly opened a restaurant and, a few years later, created the Caesar Salad. Who got that story right?

It’s a simple salad that is massively popular worldwide in homes and on restaurant menus. It is easy to make and, when homemade, is far better than anything you’ll get anywhere else.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Lettuce – Romain lettuce is the classic lettuce to use. If there is a romaine lettuce shortage, green or red leaf lettuce as a substitute will work. Kale is also sometimes used as a substitute or as the main green in this recipe
• Cheese – Large shaved Parmigiano Reggiano pieces are traditionally used when making this. You can do it yourself or buy it pre-shaved. Pecorino Romano would be a good substitute.
• Dressing — Caesar Dressing is the classic dressing to use. It is a 6-ingredient recipe consisting of anchovies, lemon juice, eggs, parmesan, and olive oil. It will take you no more than 5 minutes to make and hands down makes the best Caesar salad.
• Croutons – I prefer my homemade croutons recipe, but you can use premade store-bought.

How to Make a Caesar Salad

Cut the fresh romaine lettuce into roughly 1 ½” pieces.

Rinse the lettuce removing and dirt or unwanted particles on the lettuce leaves and dry thoroughly.

Add the lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, salt, and pepper to a bowl and pour the dressing around the bowl on the inside.

Mix the salad thoroughly making sure every leaf has brushed the dressing and is coated and serve.

Make-Ahead and Storage

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.

chef notes + tips

• Feel free to add more dressing, croutons, or Parmesan cheese as you see fit.
• Be sure to serve the salad immediately after tossing in the dressing.
• Some additional Caesar salad toppings are anchovy fillets, chicken, steak, tuna, salmon, shrimp, or hard-boiled eggs.

More Salad Recipes

• Mandarin Orange Salad
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts
• Watermelon and Feta
• Caprese
• Taco Salad

Video

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Classic Caesar Salad Recipe

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5 from 31 votes

There's nothing like a delicious, easy-to-make, fresh Caesar salad recipe that is served with homemade dressing and croutons.

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

• 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

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.

Feel free to add more dressing, croutons, or Parmesan cheese as you see fit.

Be sure to serve the salad immediately after tossing in the dressing.

Some additional Caesar salad toppings are anchovy fillets, chicken, steak, tuna, salmon, shrimp, or hard-boiled eggs.

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 5gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 889mgPotassium: 54mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 678IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 1mg

Course: Main, Salad

Cuisine: American, Italian

Author: Chef Billy Parisi