Caesar Recipe
little gem lettuce, croutons, parmigiano, caesar dressing
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Ingredients
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Salad
Caesar dressing
Croutons (homemade)
Method
Croutons (homemade)
- 1
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly oil it.
- 2
Place bread cubes in a large bowl. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil, then sprinkle garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
- 3
Spread bread cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 10–15 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until golden and crisp. Remove and cool completely. Use 2 cups for the salad and reserve any extras for another use.
Caesar dressing
- 4
Drain anchovy fillets and place them in a mortar and pestle (or finely mince on a cutting board). Add the peeled garlic cloves and a pinch of kosher salt, and mash to a smooth paste. If you prefer to avoid texture, use a small food processor or blender.
- 5
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, and the anchovy-garlic paste until smooth.
- 6
While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil to emulsify the dressing. Taste and season with 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, adjusting lemon, salt or anchovy to preference. If dressing is too thick, whisk in up to 1 tablespoon water to reach desired consistency.
Salad assembly
- 7
Prepare the little gem lettuce: remove any damaged outer leaves. Slice each head in half lengthwise (core intact so leaves hold together) or into bite-size pieces if preferred. Rinse and spin or pat dry thoroughly—dressing clings best to dry leaves.
- 8
Place the lettuce in a large chilled salad bowl. Add 2 cups of croutons and about 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
- 9
Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of the Caesar dressing over the lettuce (start with less; you can always add more). Using tongs, toss gently but thoroughly to coat leaves evenly. Taste and add more dressing if desired.
- 10
Divide the salad among plates or serve family-style. Finish with parmigiano shavings (about 1/4 cup total) scattered on top and a light grind of black pepper.