Homemade Caesar Salad with Garlic Bread Croutons

Easy, delicious Caesar salad with garlic bread croutons and homemade Caesar dressing is the perfect easy lunch or side dish.

Ingredients

This is, in my opinion, the very best Caesar salad recipe. The homemade dressing and croutons are the stars of the show with the lettuce really just being the vehicle to carry all that flavor. A generous shower of Parmesan right before serving is advised because let’s face it, who doesn’t love a mountain of Parm on their salad?

For the Caesar salad dressing

Making your own dressing is so simple (as can be seen in the video) and requires just a bowl and a whisk. You could use mayonnaise and add chopped anchovies, garlic, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese if you want to make an even quicker cheat’s version. The dressing can also be made in a blender or food processor.

• Egg yolk.
• Anchovies. I am generous with the amount of anchovies I use in my dressing because I simply can’t get enough of them. They add such great salty umami to the dressing and replaces the need for added Worcestershire sauce. You could however still add a teaspoon Worcestershire sauce if desired.
• Fresh garlic cloves. 
• Dijon mustard. 
• Fresh lemon juice. 
• Oil. I used a combination of canola oil and extra-virgin olive oil. Avocado oil works well too.
• Parmesan cheese. 
• Salt and black pepper. 

For the homemade croutons

• Bread. I used ciabatta but any crusty bread of your choice will work. Baguette is a good option too.
• Olive oil. 
• Fresh garlic. 
• Dried oregano.
• Salt.

For the Caesar salad

• Lettuce. Romaine lettuce, Iceberg, Little gem are all good varieties.
• Parmesan shavings.

How to make Caesar Salad

Start by making the croutons. Slice the bread into bite-size pieces then toss with olive oil, crushed garlic, dried garlic and a pinch of salt. Toss well then transfer to a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven until crisp and golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Make the dressing in a medium bowl. Whisk together the egg yolk, finely chopped anchovies, minced garlic, a teaspoon Dijon mustard and freshly squeezed lemon juice together. Slowly drizzle in the oil whilst whisking continuously until the mixture is emulsified, thick and a pale yellow, exactly how you would for homemade mayo. Add the Parmesan cheese then season to taste with salt and pepper.

To make the salad, spoon the dressing into the bottom of a large serving bowl. Add the lettuce leaves and toss well. Add the croutons and Parmesan shavings then serve.

What to serve with Caesar salad

I love eating a Caesar on its own for lunch and it makes a fantastic side dish. For extra protein, add a grilled chicken breast to make a classic chicken caesar salad.

Can I make this ahead?

The dressing can be made up to week in advance and kept in a jar in the fridge. The croutons will last for up to 5-7 days in an airtight container at room temperature. Once the salad is dressed, it’s best to serve it straight away.

Easy salad recipes

1. Grinder-style salad 
2. Easy green salad with lemon Parmesan dressing