Classic Caesar Salad

Caesar salad when done right can be absolutely amazing.  My girls and I love to eat it.  It's addicting.

Ingredients

• Salad dressing:  Pick the best quality one you can find, or better yet, make your own.  It's cheap, easy, and healthier.  The bottom line is having the right dressing makes your it soar to new heights. 
• Homemade croutons:  They taste so much better than store bought.  They are fresh, crunchy, and buttery, so plan to use them.
• Bacon.  It adds both umami and salty tastes.  Bacon also adds another texture which improves the overall experience.
• Parmesan shards are the icing on the cake and pull this recipe together.  They are so easy to make with a vegetable peeler, and they make the final product look impressive!
• Fresh, crisp Romaine hearts
• Minced garlic
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Questions

What's the secret to making Caesar salad? 

Fresh, quality ingredients that are quickly assembled, and served right away will set your creation apart.  A big part of the popularity of this dish is hearing the crunch from the fresh lettuce and croutons, so don't add them until the end.  Oh, make sure to add lots of garlic and fresh lemon juice as they are key ingredients.

How many calories are in one serving?

To calculate the nutritional facts for this recipe, we divided the recipe into four servings.  For one serving, there is 407 calories with 8.9g of carbs.  This recipe is also high in vitamins A and C and calcium.  For more nutritional information, scroll past the recipe card.

What are pasteurized eggs?

In the U.S., eggs are pasteurized when they are treated at 140F for 3 ½ minutes.  This will destroy the harmful bacteria on the shell and will reduce the risk of foodborne illness.  Using pasteurized eggs to make homemade Caesar dressing or mayo is a good idea.

How to Make

• Gather all your ingredients.  Homemade Caesar dressing, homemade croutons, minced garlic, bacon, Romaine, black pepper and 4 lemon wedges.
• Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.  Blot with a paper towel and allow to cool then tear or cut into smaller pieces.
• Cut the washed and dried Romaine into 1 inch pieces.
• In a large bowl, place the Romaine then squeeze three lemon wedges on top.  Sprinkle on the bacon then toss with tongs.
• Pour on the dressing, add the minced garlic and the black pepper.  Toss to coat.  Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more dressing, or lemon juice.
• Top with Parmesan shards and serve immediately.

I encourage to take the time to make a Caesar salad from scratch.  If you do, you won't be disappointed, and your guests will fall in love with it.

Variations

• If you want to add protein, grilled chicken is a popular choice.

Pro Tips

• Taste and adjust your seasonings before serving it to your guests.  That way, you'll have the right balance of garlic, lemon juice, dressing and pepper. 
• It's best to assemble everything right before serving, so the lettuce stays crisp. 

Craving more salad recipes?

• Traditional Greek Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad
• Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

The pleasure of a 5 star review would be greatly appreciated.

Recipe

Classic Caesar Salad

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5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Brooke
• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

Classic Caesar salad is an easy, low carb recipe made with creamy salad dressing, romaine lettuce, bacon, croutons, garlic, and lemon juice.  Your dinner party guests will love this simple yet delicious salad!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 7 ounces romaine lettuce, pre-washed and trimmed
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup Caesar salad dressing
• ⅓ cup pan-fried bacon, torn into small pieces
• 1 cup croutons
• ⅓ cup fresh Parmesan shavings
• ½ lemon, cut in four wedges
• black pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. In a large skillet, cook 4 pieces of bacon.  Use a fork to flip the bacon.
2. While the bacon is cooking, stack the Romaine lettuce pieces three high on top of a cutting board.  Using a long knife, cut the lettuce into 1 inch wide pieces.  Place the lettuce in a large mixing bowl.
3. Mince two cloves of garlic, and add to the mixing bowl.
4. Blot the bacon with paper towel to remove excess grease, then let it cool.
5. Halve a lemon lengthwise, then cut one half into 4 wedges.  Squeeze three lemon wedges on top. Tear the bacon into small pieces, add it along with the croutons.  Mix well with tongs.
6. Pour ½ cup of Caesar dressing on the lettuce.  Using the tongs, gently toss to coat each piece of lettuce with the dressing.
7. Add a few grinds of black pepper.  Toss and taste, adjusting the flavors to your liking by adding more lemon juice, garlic, dressing, or black pepper.
8. Use a vegetable peeler to shave off pieces of cheese from the wedge of Parmesan.  If you want the shard to be thinner, cut in half lengthwise.  Place in the bowl and toss.
9. Serve immediately while the lettuce is still crisp.

Notes

• If you are planning on serving this at a dinner party or at a potluck, it is best to assemble the salad right before serving, so the lettuce stays crisp.  In order to do this, have all the components of this salad made ahead of time.
• If you want to add protein, grilled chicken is a popular choice.

• Category: Salad
• Method: Tossed
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: classic caesar salad, easy caesar salad recipe