Description
Experience the perfection of a restaurant-quality Caesar salad crafted right in your own kitchen. This recipe features crisp, fresh romaine hearts and crunchy, oven-toasted sourdough croutons coated in a rich, velvety, emulsified garlic-lemon dressing. By using fresh, high-quality ingredients and focusing on the science of emulsification, you achieve a bright, tangy, and deeply savory salad that avoids the synthetic notes of bottled dressings. It is a timeless, vegetarian-friendly dish that delivers the ultimate crunch and creamy texture in every balanced bite.
Ingredients
2 large heads romaine hearts, washed and chopped
1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
3 garlic cloves, mashed into a paste
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups sourdough bread, cut into cubes
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and toast sourdough cubes until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes.
Mash garlic cloves into a smooth paste using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a knife.
In a medium glass bowl, whisk the garlic paste, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper for two minutes.
Slowly stream the olive oil into the lemon-garlic mixture while whisking constantly to create a stable emulsion.
Stir in half of the grated parmesan cheese to the dressing until well combined.
Toss the crisp romaine leaves with the dressing until evenly coated.
Top with toasted croutons and garnish with the remaining parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
Ensure the romaine is dried thoroughly after washing to prevent the dressing from becoming watery. You can experiment with adding Mediterranean herbs like oregano to the croutons for extra flavor. Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Summer Desserts
- Method: Whisking and Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 15mg