Caesar Salad Homemade with the Perfect Dressing
Making Caesar salad at home with a tasty dressing is not as difficult as you might think. People usually order it at restaurants to enjoy it or buy the dressing in bottles from supermarkets, but now it is possible to prepare your homemade salad with this simple recipe.
Caesar Cardini, an Italian restaurant owner in Mexico, is credited with creating Caesar salad in 1924, and it was named after him. It originated in Mexico and California. It is worldwide known as an American dish. Different versions and varieties of the salad were made later.
Dressing making is what people think is difficult. However, preparing a dressing that is rich in flavors and creamy in texture is absolutely simple. Your kids can help or even make it themselves.
Method to make your Caesar salad
To prepare our rich side dish, we need some ingredients that are found in our kitchens. You can find many varieties concerning the dressing.
Ingredients:
Commonly, the following ingredients are needed for the dressing:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- anchovy fillets, to taste (small saltwater fish) or anchovy paste (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1 egg yolk (optional)
- parmesan cheese, finely grated
- ground pepper, to taste
- salt, to taste
- Other ingredients
- lettuce leaves
- bread pieces
- parmesan cheese, finely grated (for serving)
- Grilled meat or chicken chunks (optional)
Method and instructions for preparation:
⦁ Let’s start with the dressing. Preparing the dressing by hand is possible, but I recommend using a blender or a hand blender at this stage. In the blender, put anchovy fillet or paste, garlic clove, egg yolk, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, mustard, pepper, and salt. Blend until well combined together. Run the blender again and add olive oil slowly until you get a smooth and creamy sauce. If you prefer the garlicky flavor, add more garlic cloves. Also, you can use some water if needed.
Refrigerate your dressing if you do not want to use it immediately as it has raw eggs.
⦁ Let’s now prepare the croutons. Put the bread bite-sized pieces on a baking sheet and toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper and bake in the oven until crispy and golden in color. Leave aside.
If you prefer pasta salad, replace the croutons with pasta. (Another alternative)
⦁ Chop fresh lettuce hearts as they will have a nice crisp. Lettuce leaves can be used as well as in the traditional recipe. The other ingredients can be put on the lettuce leaves and eaten using fingers.
⦁ Now everything is ready. You need to assemble the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, put the lettuce and croutons. Add your favorite amount of dressing, grated parmesan, and some black pepper, and toss again. Time to add the grilled meat or chicken chunks if you have not used anchovy in your dressing. Combine and enjoy all the flavors! For richer flavors, add more parmesan and black pepper on top of each serving.
⦁Health benefits of Caesar salad
What is healthier than a dish of salad? Lettuce is rich in fiber and nutrients: lutein and vitamin C which are essential for health. Meat, chicken, and anchovies are rich in proteins if you decide to add them to your dish. Lemon juice, the greatest source of vitamin C, adds to the value of our meal. It supports the immune system. Garlic is great for reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. It is also a great natural antibiotic. In general, this dish is loved by children adults and the elderly. It is recommended especially for seniors thanks to its many health benefits.