Classic Caesar Salad

I have tweaked this recipe for years to achieve that perfect, restaurant-style Classic Caesar Salad, and I have finally achieved it! My family didn't eat out much growing up, but when we did get to I always ordered a caesar salad. This one evokes those memories and is SOOO good to boot!

It's the super quick, homemade croutons and the finely shaved red onions that really make it for me. And just the right dressing, creamy, no anchovy caesar dressing that makes everyone happy.

Ingredients

The first thing you need is my Creamy Caesar Dressing, whip it up early in the day or days before. It keeps for about a week in the fridge. You can also make the croutons early on, up to 2 days before. They keep really well in an airtight container.

Get all the veg prep, dressing, and croutons out of the way, then you can whip up your salad at any moment.

Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe card with ingredient measurements and instructions.

Method

The first thing I do is make the croutons. They only take 5 minutes to whip up and are totally worth the work. It really isn't work, and the flavor is amazing!

Then add the remaining ingredients into a bowl and mix up the salad. I like to toss it all together to really get the dressing on all of the lettuce. I also like a few cracks of black pepper too.

Serve the salad up in bowls and top with more croutons and some of the shaved parmesan cheese.

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📖 Recipe

Yield: 4 side salads

Classic Caesar Salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

I have tweaked this recipe for years to achieve that perfect, restaurant-style Classic Caesar Salad, and I have finally achieved it!

Print

Ingredients

for the croutons:

• 3 cups torn 1" pieces country bread, with crusts
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher Salt
• Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

for the salad:

• 4 cups Romaine Lettuce, shaved (from 2-3 heads)
• ½ recipe Creamy Caesar Dressing
• ½ Red Onion, thinly shaved
• Shaved Parmesan, for serving

Instructions

for the croutons:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Toss bread with olive oil and place on a baking sheet and season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
3. Bake, turning from time to time, until golden brown, 10–15 minutes.

to make the salad:

1. Place the shaved romaine, about ½ cup dressing, the red onion, and a few croutons, in a large bowl, and toss to coat the lettuce well.
2. Use a vegetable peeler to thinly shave some parmesan over the tossed salad and top with croutons.
3. Serve immediately. 

Notes

Notes & Tips

The key to making this salad easy to whip up at dinner time is prepping all the components ahead of time.

I use a mandoline to shave the red onion super thin, it's just so much more enjoyable to eat when it is paper-thin.

Shave a wedge of parmesan with a vegetable peeler to get those nice fancy shreds and not spent the extra money on it at the grocery store.

Romaine is the classic lettuce for this salad. But I like to cut it nice and thin, almost shaved. It makes for a nicer eating experience. Easier to get on the fork.

The homemade croutons are worth it. Don't skimp on them. I like to use a ciabatta roll to make them, they stay soft on the inside and crisp on the outside.

Also, really soak the croutons in olive oil, it gives them so much flavor, the bread should basically be green before baking. It also helps them crisp.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Benriner Mandoline Slicer, with 4 Japanese Stainless Steel Blades, Beige
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  Stainless Steel Vegetable Peeler and Fruit Peeler
• 
  Peugeot 23485 Paris u'Select 9-Inch Pepper Mill, Chocolate, 9 Inch
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  John Boos MPL1812125G Chop-N-Slice Select Maple Edge Grain Cutting Board, 18 Inches x 12 Inches x 1.25 Inches
• 
  Shun Classic 7" Hollow Ground Santoku Knife w/Custom Engraving
• 
  Cobram Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100% California Select, First Cold Pressed, Non-GMO 750mL, Keto Friendly High in Antioxidants, Made from Californian Grown Olives
• 
  Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet (3 Pack)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 247Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 612mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 9g

This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.

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