Under 30 minFrenchLunchStarterMain courseDinner
Classic Caesar Salad
The salad that divides people into two groups: those who are scared of anchovies and those who've figured it out. Crispy romaine, golden homemade croutons, parmesan shavings and a creamy dressing that has nothing to do with the bottled stuff. Spoiler: you can't taste the anchovies. They just make everything better.

- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
Method
- 1Cut the bread into cubes of about 2 cm. Rub them with a halved garlic clove and drizzle with olive oil. Toast in a pan or in the oven at 200°C (390°F) for 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.💡 TipThe croutons should be golden and crispy on the outside but still slightly soft inside. Too hard and dry and they damage the leaves and are unpleasant to eat.
- 2Crush the anchovies and the 2 remaining garlic cloves into a fine paste. Mix with the egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the 60ml of olive oil in a thin stream while whisking vigorously until you get a smooth, emulsified dressing. Stir in the grated parmesan. Taste, season with salt and pepper.💡 TipDon't fear the anchovies: once mixed into the dressing, their flavour completely blends in. They add depth and umami, not a fishy taste. That's the secret of the real Caesar dressing.
- 3Tear or cut the romaine leaves into pieces. Pat them dry thoroughly with a tea towel or salad spinner.💡 TipWet leaves dilute the dressing and it won't cling. Drying the romaine thoroughly is non-negotiable for a good Caesar salad.
- 4Pour the dressing over the romaine and toss well to coat every leaf. Add the parmesan shavings and croutons. Serve immediately.💡 TipDress just before serving, never in advance. A Caesar salad that sits for 10 minutes becomes a soup.
Tips & variations
Add a sliced pan-fried chicken breast on top to make it a full main course. It's the best-known and most filling version.
The dressing can be made in advance and keeps for 2 days in the fridge. The croutons too (in an airtight container). Assemble the salad at the last moment.
Anchovy-free version: replace with 1 tsp of miso paste + 1 tsp of soy sauce. It's not the same thing, but the result is still very good.
The dressing can be made in advance and keeps for 2 days in the fridge. The croutons too (in an airtight container). Assemble the salad at the last moment.
Anchovy-free version: replace with 1 tsp of miso paste + 1 tsp of soy sauce. It's not the same thing, but the result is still very good.
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