I got in BIG trouble with the cousins when I shared this treasured family recipe. I guess when they said "secret", they meant it. 🙈
This Caesar Salad Recipe has been perfected over four generations, handed down from Ryan's great grandma. It's a staple at family functions and it's the only green salad my kids regularly request.
The magic is in the zesty homemade Caesar salad dressing with lots of garlic and lemon.
Ryan's family is also the source of our beloved kifle cookie recipe. I married into some great food!
What Goes Into a Classic Caesar Salad (And Our Family's Version!)
A great Caesar salad doesn't need much. Just a few quality ingredients done right. This is the foundation our family has used for four generations, and it's stood the test of time for good reason.
Crisp Romaine lettuce is the classic choice for Caesar salad. The sturdy leaves hold up to the rich dressing without getting soggy. That said, we've absolutely used other greens when that's what we had on hand. Tender kale or shredded cabbage both work surprisingly well.
Fresh Parmesan is non-negotiable. We always grate it fresh from a block. Those pre-shredded bags have anti-caking agents that really dull the flavor. The sharp, salty bite of real Parmesan is what makes a Caesar taste like a Caesar.
The dressing is where four generations of tweaking comes in. It's built on simple pantry staples: good olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, egg yolks (or mayo for the easier version), Worcestershire sauce for that salty umami punch, and salt and pepper.
Homemade croutons make all the difference. Just toss day-old bread with olive oil and garlic, then bake until golden. That crunchy contrast is key. Or use your favorite store-bought. I love the croissant croutons from Trader Joe's.
Finish with fresh black pepper and you're done.
Garlic Lovers
It is a flavor-packed dish because the dressing has a healthy dose of garlic. If you're in mixed company, maybe scale back on the garlic cloves. But, if you want to keep the vampires away, this recipe will rock your world.
Preparing Lettuce for Caesar Salad
Romaine is the traditional lettuce for Caesar salad. I always go for fresh lettuce and cut it myself. The bagged stuff isn't really "my bag."
I personally chop lettuce with a regular chef's knife, but my mother-in-law is a die-hard tear-it-by-hand type. Other people swear by using a special lettuce knife because it doesn't bruise the lettuce.
How to Make Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
The dressing is easy to make. I drop all of the ingredients into a mason jar and use my immersion blender to blend it all up. This saves time instead of mincing the garlic. Of course, if you prefer your dressings shaken, not blended, you can mince the garlic, add the other ingredients into a salad dressing container and shake to mix.
Be sure to use fresh lemon juice because it's such a significant percentage of the dressing. I've had people report back negative results after using the bottled lemon juice, because, well, that stuff ain't fresh.
The dressing is also wonderful on other things. I use it as a dipping sauce, drizzle it on veggies, and use it as a sauce for other entrees.
Does Caesar Dressing Have Raw Eggs?
Traditional Caesar Salad does contain raw eggs. If you're concerned about egg safety, you can buy pasteurized eggs at the store.
I use the regular ones and our family has been enjoying this recipe for decades without incident.
What kind of cheese is in Caesar Salad?
This is important. The original family recipe for Caesar salad simply calls for grated parmesan. But, my mother-in-law has developed the two-parm method using shredded parmesan AND grated.
It's a texture bonus to have the larger shreds while also having the granular texture of the grated. I highly recommend it. You can buy it shredded and grated, or, like I do, get a wedge of parmesan and use the two different sides of a box grater to get the two different textures.
What to serve with Caesar salad
Traditionally, the family serves Caesar salad along with grilled steaks. Mmmmmm...I could go for a ribeye right now. At my house, I'll pair it with pretty much any main dish. I also love adding chicken for a main dish salad.
- Spinach Fandango Casserole
- My Mother-in-Law's Favorite Salmon Piccata
- Creamy Slow Cooker Angel Chicken Pasta
Bread is also a wonderful pairing
Recipe for Caesar Salad
- Prep Time: 25
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: salad
- Method: salad
- Cuisine: American
Description
A classic Caesar Salad Recipe with fresh romaine, crunchy croutons, parmesan cheese and a tangy light homemade Caesar dressing.
Ingredients
- ½ cup neutral flavored oil (I like avocado oil or olive oil)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 whole egg
- 1 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves of garlic (more if you're my husband's family)
- ½ cup parmesan cheese (half grated, half shredded)
- 1 to 2 cups croutons
- 1 large head of romaine, chopped (or 2 romaine hearts)
- Cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry lettuce and tear into bite-sized pieces or chop with a knife
- Combine the ½ cup of oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ cup lemon juice, 1 whole egg, 1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and two cloves of garlic into a jar or dressing container and blend with a blender until smooth. Or, if you mince or press the garlic, simply shake the container until thoroughly mixed.
- Toss the lettuce with the dressing to desired amount of dressing, parmesan cheese, and croutons and season with fresh cracked black pepper to taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 218
- Sugar: 1.8 g
- Sodium: 371.9 mg
- Fat: 17.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.6 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 4.9 g
- Cholesterol: 27.6 mg
Frequently Asked Questions
The dressing keeps in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in an airtight container. The salad itself is best assembled right before serving. Once dressed, lettuce wilts quickly. For meal prep, store washed and dried lettuce separately, make the dressing ahead, and toss together when ready to eat.
You can, but freshly grated parmesan makes a noticeable difference in both the dressing and as a topping. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that affect texture and flavor. A block of parmesan lasts months in the fridge and takes just a minute to grate.
Romaine is the traditional choice for Caesar Salad, but I've also made this with kale, cabbage, even mixed greens and spinach. The dressing is also tasty on sandwiches and in slaw.
Caesar salad was created in 1924 by Italian-American restaurateur Caesar Cardini at his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. It's named after him, not the Roman emperor. He reportedly invented it during a busy Fourth of July weekend when supplies were running low, tossing together what he had on hand.
Barney Lund says
I love the layout, pictures, etc. for your new blog, but I HAVE to ask, how did you create your recipe multiplier/nutrition facts widget thing at the bottom? That is amazing! Thanks for your awesome work. Keep it it up!
I’m making your salad ASAP!
Joanie Simon says
Thank you so much! The recipe card with the multiplier is the Tasty Recipes plugin by WP Tasty and the nutrition facts are thanks to Nutrifox. Pretty nifty plugins! https://www.wptasty.com/
Gb says
Hi Joanie,
I lbeen watching your videos for a very long time now! Your photography is beautiful, clean, crips, moody! I LOVE IT!
Question, the material for the backdrops in Ink and Elm are for food photography or studio material?
Thank you,
Joanie Simon says
Thank you so much! The Ink and Elm are great for the price. They are the background in all of the shots here on the blog.
vurtil opmer says
When I initially commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added" checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Bless you!
Amanda says
I watched this video last night and my husband said that looks amazing. So guess I gotta make it now. Love a good Caesar salad.
Joanie Simon says
It's a fave! Hope you enjoy <3
Amanda Reiter says
Last night I watched the Good Place where someone on the show sings "You can ring my be-ee-ee-l, ring my bell". When I went to sleep, I was trying to remember the song and couldn't think of it. Now this morning I came to your site to pick up the ingredients as I make the instacart order, I see the name The Dinner Bell and suddenly the song comes back to me. Love when worlds collide.
Joanie Simon says
Ha ha ha! I love it! And that's such a great show. Happy weekend Amanda!
Yummypair says
I found you on youtube. That's really amazing. I learn lots of things from you. I am also food blogger love to explore new fusion food throughout the world. All your tips helps us a lot. Please keep sharing all recipes and tips.😊🙂😍
Joanie Simon says
So glad to hear! Cheers!