Name: Caesar Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 400 grams Chicken Breasts; 4 tbsp Butter; 80 grams Croutons (- Homemade or store-bought. ); 200 grams Iceberg lettuce; 3 Tbsp Olive oil; 5 Tbsp Mayonnaise (- Homemade or store-bought.); 3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese; 1/2 tsp Ground White Pepper; 3 Tbsp Lemon juice; 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce; ½ tsp Garlic powder

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Today, we are making Caesar salad, which is an easy recipe to make at home. It uses a handful of ingredients and comes together fairly quickly.

Many people are unaware of the fascinating story behind the creation of Caesar salad. In 1924, a restaurateur found himself short on supplies and decided to use what he had: garlic, croutons, lettuce, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. Interestingly, the original Caesar salad recipe did not include anchovies. Some people believe anchovies are essential, while others prefer a touch of fish sauce instead. If you are using Dijon mustard, you can even omit anchovies entirely.

What made Caesar salad special at the time was its theatrical presentation, as it was prepared tableside for customers. This unique experience became a huge hit, attracting Hollywood celebrities to the restaurant. Much of Caesar salad’s popularity stems from its dressing, which is very simple to make and requires only a few ingredients. When preparing Caesar salad dressing, you have two options: use store-bought dressing or make your own. The amount of dressing you make will depend on the quantity of salad you are preparing and the number of people you are serving. As mentioned earlier, the original Caesar salad did not contain anchovies, relying instead on Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard for flavor.

Ingredients

Parmesan cheese, White Pepper, Lemon, Lettuce, Garlic, Chicken Breast, Old Baguette, Mustard Sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Mayonnaise sauce.

The heart of a Caesar salad lies in its dressing, croutons, and tender chicken breast. The dressing is made with lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, garlic, white pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese. Salt is intentionally omitted, as the Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard provide sufficient flavor. Depending on the ingredients you have on hand, feel free to taste and adjust the saltiness as needed. Making croutons is quite simple; you can prepare them at home or opt for store-bought versions—whichever is more convenient for you. Using authentic Dijon mustard in your dressing will significantly elevate the flavor of your Caesar salad.

Instructions

If you are making mayonnaise from scratch. Leave out the egg until it reaches room temperature. This will take a few minutes. Add the oils to the measuring container, crack the egg, and add it to the container. Use a hand mixer to emulsify the ingredients. Start from the bottom and work your way upwards. This mixture will thicken and emulsify into mayonnaise. Add the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and vinegar into the mixture, and emulsify again. Taste and adjust the ingredients to suit your taste.

In a bowl, add mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a bit of olive oil or grapeseed oil. Season with black pepper and salt. Then, add Parmesan cheese and whisk the mixture vigorously until well combined. Next, let’s prepare the croutons. Homemade croutons are healthier and less salty than store-bought versions. Start by cutting your baguette into slices, then cube them. Lay the cubes onto a baking tray and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, then remove once they’re golden and crispy.

How to cook your chicken? There are two ways to cook moist and tender chicken breast. The first method is to shallow-poach the chicken. Start by defrosting the chicken breast, then slice it into cubes and slices. Add a little water to a pan with butter.

Cook the chicken until the meat turns from pink to white on medium-low heat. Make sure that the pot lid is covered. Once the chicken is cooked, grill it on a grill pan with more butter. This step will yield the softest, most tender chicken pieces.

You can shallow-poach and grill a large amount of chicken and use it throughout the week to make more chicken-based salads. Suppose you are short on time and want to grill the chicken as fast as possible. Add butter to a grill pan. Add the defrosted chicken breast with rosemary and cook for approximately 6 minutes per side, using a grill pan lid or a piece of foil.

Thereafter, flip and cook for 2 more minutes on each side without using the foil or grill pan lid. After cooking, set it aside and let it rest for five minutes to prevent the juices from seeping out. Considering the rest time, it is more convenient and faster to follow the first set of instructions.

Thereafter, arrange your washed lettuce leaves on a plate. Slice up your chicken breast and place it on top of the lettuce. Place croutons on the salad. Then drizzle with your Caesar salad dressing.

What to Serve with your Caesar Salad?

There are many main dishes that you can serve alongside your Caesar Salad. Since this salad is protein-rich, consider serving homemade tomato or turnip soup alongside garlic bread. Roasted potatoes or vegetables would complement the salad. If you are going for a vegetarian Caesar salad, consider grilled steak or Lamb chops. Spaghetti aglio e olio is a great option for a fulfilling meal.

How to Store Your Caesar Salad?

You can prepare your ingredients, such as croutons, grilled chicken, and salad dressing, ahead of time. It is advisable to store each component in individual airtight containers. Make sure to wash your lettuce leaves and let them dry. Store croutons in a dry container. Salad dressing needs to be refrigerated. If you are using egg yolk (this recipe omits egg yolk), we advise you to omit whisking in the egg yolk until the day of use. Storing each component separately will keep the ingredients fresh for 3 to 4 days.