Classic Caesar Salad is really just that: Classic.
Tangy. Crisp. Delicious.
This Classic Caesar Salad truly is the real deal.
How To Make Ceasar Salad
We just love a well-made Caesar salad. It’s hands down, the Loon’s favorite salad, and is right at the top for me, too.
Watch us show you how easy it is to make a Classic Caesar Salad!
It all starts with a beautiful head of romaine lettuce.
We like to tear the lettuce into large, bite-sized pieces. A knife or your hands can do this in a snap.
Wash the cut lettuce, then dry it off, then let it crisp in the refrigerator for a few hours.
HOMEMADE CROUTONS ARE A MUST AND ARE EASY TO MAKE
It may seem like a lot of trouble making your croutons for this Classic Caesar Salad, but trust us, it’s not!
The crunch of the toasted little squares of fresh bread just can’t be beat.
They only bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until crunchy and golden. Be sure to toss the croutons around on the pan mid-way through baking.
The layers of flavor make them irresistible.
And an added coating of Romano cheese and fresh parsley is perfection.
Oh, yes. By the way, did you know that Caesar Salad originated in Mexico? Isn’t that interesting?
Let us tell you again, don’t skip making these croutons for Classic Caesar Salad.
And the great thing is they can be made up to 24 hours in advance.
Oh, how we love homemade croutons!
USE A FOOD PROCESSOR OR BLENDER FOR THE DRESSING
We use our food processor to emulsify the Caesar dressing ingredients.
Don’t be afraid of the anchovies, they truly do give Caesar dressing its distinct taste.
You’ll need 1 cup for this recipe, save the leftovers for other uses. It’s great as a sandwich spread!
It’s important to let the dressing sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
This not only allows the flavors to meld, but the dressing will thicken, too.
You are going to love this Classic Caesar Salad! The dressing is as good as you’ll find anywhere!
THIS IS A RESTAURANT-QUALITY CAESAR SALAD RECIPE
Other awesome Italian appetizers to serve with this salad are:
- Spanish-Style Garlic Shrimp
- Arancini (Rice Balls)
- Fried Calamari
- Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
- Wedge Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
- Caprese Salad with Grilled Peaches
We love serving this salad as a first course when serving our favorite Italian dishes, such as Chicken Parmesan, or Baked Ziti, or Shrimp Scampi, or Steak Pizzaiola
OTHER AMAZING SALAD RECIPES TO TRY
Summer Fruit Salad
Roasted Asparagus, Sesame, and Chopped Egg Salad
Albacore Tuna and White Bean Salad
Classic Cobb Salad
Summer Salad with Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Mixed Green Salad with Gorgonzola
But in the meantime, it’s time for: Classic Caesar Salad.
Classic Caesar Salad
Ingredients
FOR THE SALAD DRESSING
- 6 anchovy fillets packed in oil
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- Juice of 1 small lemon
- 1 cup olive oil
- 8 tbsp Romano cheese grated
- 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE CROUTONS
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 4 3/4-inch thick slices Italian bread
- 5 tbsp Romano cheese grated
- 1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley chopped
FOR THE SALAD
- 1 large head romaine lettuce about 1 lb
- 3 anchovy fillets for garnish, optional
Instructions
MAKE THE DRESSING
- In a blender, or food processor, puree the 6 anchovy fillets. Add the garlic and pulse until the mixture is well blended.
- Add the egg yolks and blend the mixture for about 2 minutes. Turn off the motor, add the vinegar and lemon juice, and pulse for another 30 seconds.
- With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream until it is incorporated.
- Add the cheese, parsley, and oregano and pulse the mixture for 10 seconds.
- Season the dressing to taste with a pinch of salt and pepper. Transfer to a glass or container with a tight fitting lid, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Chilling the dressing thickens it, and the thicker it gets, the better it sticks to the lettuce.
MAKE THE CROUTONS
- Pre-heat oven to 350° F.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, garlic, and oregano. Whisk the mixture well.
- Trim the crusts from the bread and cut each slice into 1-inch squares. Place the bread cubes in the bowl and toss them until they are well coated.
- Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake them for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring at least once, halfway through baking, until they are crispy and browned.
- Transfer the croutons to a bowl, add 2 tbsp of the cheese and the parsley, and toss them together well. Set aside.
PREPARE THE LETTUCE
- Using your hands, or a large sharp knife, cut the lettuce into bite-sized pieces, and then wash thoroughly under cold water. Dry with a salad spinner or with paper towels.
- Transfer the lettuce back to your colander and cover with a kitchen towel, or into large plastic baggies (left open) and refrigerate until very cold and crisp. Usually a couple hours.
ASSEMBLE THE SALAD
- Place the lettuce in a bowl. Add the croutons and 2 tbsp of the cheese. Spoon 1 cup of the dressing over the salad and mix them together well, using your hands or tongs. Reserve the remaining dressing for another use.
- Pile the salad on a platter and top it with remaining tbsp of cheese and freshly ground black pepper. Place the 3 anchovies on top of the salad is using. Serve at once!
When you said Best Ever, you weren’t kidding! I only put in 3/4 c. olive oil because I generally like my salad dressing ratio to be half acid and half oil. This will be the only Caesar Salad I make from now on.
Rebecca! Yay!!!! We are beyond thrilled that you had such great success with the Caesar salad recipe! Sounds like you made it perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing and for the GREAT review. That means the world to us! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Another great recipe! I really never have made Caesar salad because I thought that I could never duplicate my favorite table side salad at my favorite restaurant in Cancun. I’m so happy that I tried it. It was easy and absolutely fabulous. I followed it as is except doubling the recipe. But I added just a pinch of Worcestershire sauce and a little squirt of Dijon mustard. That’s just my preference. That’s all. Putting in mason jar and refrigerator for 4 hours was a perfect idea as well as crisping the romaine as well in the refrigerator. Just a fabulous taste and I’m so thrilled that I tried it. I have plenty of dressing left and we’ve had in two more nights in a row. Thanks for sharing another great recipe. So thankful for you guys!
Sounds like you made it perfectly, Diane!!!! We are so so thankful that you are having fun with our recipes! You are an AMAZING home chef!!!!
Hello,
I’m Jackson, I’m a chef who loves food, I’m always interested in new foods. Classic Caesar Salad is great! I just finished them tonight, taste is great and i had a great dinner with my little family. Thanks for your sharing.
Sincerely grateful!
Hi Jackson!! So sorry for the delayed response!! Wow!! We love getting good reviews from chefs! We are more than thrilled that you loved our Caesar salad recipe and the family did, too. Thanks for letting us know and for the wonderful review. That means the world to us!! Kris & Wesley
Looks like Vietnamese food but has a very different taste when enjoying. great
it’s so great, it’s hard to describe it in a few words, it’s great! This dish used in summer is really good for health, both adults and children can use it
This recipe was so good will be making this a lot
What is your newest recipe you have perfected ? Thank you
Love this recipe, it is easy and so tasty!!! I just finished it last night and the result was unexpected, my wife and daughter both liked it, which made me happy. Thanks for your recipe!
Hi Elliott! That is SO AWESOME!!! We are so happy to hear that you and your family loved the Caesar salad so much!! Thank you so much for letting us know and for the GREAT review! That honestly means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
I tried a caesar salad at a japanese restaurant, it was really delicious.
It seems healthy, low cab and suitable for people on diet
Btw, love your ingredients format, easy to print out and use as a shopping list.
Thank you so much, Marina!!
Taught my g-daughter this recipe to teach her how to read a recipe and cook it. Came out delicious.
Thank you!
Thank you so much, Chef!! That means a lot to us coming from such an accomplished chef such as you!! We are fans! And that’s just awesome that your grand-daughter made caesar salad with such great success! Please tell her we are very impressed, and to keep on cookin’! That talent obviously is in the family DNA! Thanks again and thanks for the great review. We truly appreciate that! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Looks great! The recipe is quite simple and easy to prepare, added to the menu for this weekend. hope to enjoy the best Classic Caesar Salad with my family. Thanks and have a nice day!
what a great post, u have won my heart ..! what a way u have used to explain these in simple. appreciate it kris & wesley keep it up good work…..!
Thank you so much, Barry!
I’m sorry for my critical comment re the calories. Didn’t stop to think – the whole recipe for the dressing isn’t used. Duh.
Excellent recipe! Just one correction on the nutritional data; 1/4 cup olive oil (as per 1 of 4 servings) has 477 calories, so the stated 298 calories can’t be right. But with a recipe this good, who’s counting.
This was a perfect compliment to a NYE meal and really easy to prep everything in advance. Very easy and tasty! Thank you!
Awesome!! Thank you, Kate! So glad you enjoyed the Caesar salad. And Happy New Year!!!
Hey guys,
yesterday I tried this recipe and it ticked a lot of boxes for me. But what I didn’t like was that it had so much sourness. This is always a matter of taste, though. Red vine vinegar AND the juice of an entire lemon is probably just too much for my European palate. I guess I’ll stick to ceasar dressing with mustard instead of vinegar (my tip: combining French Dijon mustard and Bavarian sweet mustard 2:1).
What I really loved, though, was the idea to add fresh parsley and dried oregano to both the dressing and the croutons. I’ll be doing this from now on for all my caesar salads. Also, your advice to toss the croutons with the cheese was great. I also poured some beurre noisette over the croutons so the cheese+parsley mixture can “stick” a little better.
Your website is awesome and a great inspiration.
Hey Simon! Thanks so much for you note! Our dressing does have an extra kick of tartness, which we like as a match against the briny anchovy, but as you say…it’s a matter of taste! Mustard in place of vinegar, we have no doubt, would be delicious!! So glad you enjoyed the tips on the croutons. What would a Caesar salad be without yummy croutons!! Thanks so much for the kind words and please stay in touch. So much more still to come!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
These all look amazing! I’m glad I came across this blog, this is exactly what I’m looking for.
Hi Kris & Wesley,
I was looking for new variant salad recipe. I find it today. Thanks.. I want to make it this weekend.
Hi Emily!
Awesome!!! We think you will LOVE this Caesar salad! It’s one of our all-time favorites! Let us know if you make it and how you like it!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
really interesting article , very delicious food
Hi guys! Have you tried making the dressing with an immersion blender? That word “emulsify” got me thinking about it. The clean up is just so much easier. Your opinion?