Caesar Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
45 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
4 to 6 people, or more at a potluck
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Course
Main Course, Salad
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Cuisine
American
Caesar Pasta Salad
Description
The salad begins by preparing sourdough croutons toasted in butter until golden and crisp. Romaine lettuce is chopped and lightly salted and peppered before being tossed with grated Parmesan cheese and several spoonfuls of the homemade Greek yogurt-based Caesar dressing, which blends garlic, yogurt, Parmesan, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, anchovy paste, lemon juice, and olive oil into a creamy emulsion. Cooked pasta is added and mixed to coat evenly.
The assembled salad is garnished with shaved Parmesan and the warm croutons just before serving to maintain their crunch. The dressing’s tangy and savory profile complements the crisp lettuce and tender pasta, while the croutons provide a buttery, crunchy element. This salad can be served on its own or as a component paired with proteins like chicken or salmon.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 lices sourdough bread torn into pieces
- 1 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 10 to 12 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- salt kosher salt
- black pepper kosher salt
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese finely grated
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese shaved
- 1 to 2 cups pasta cooked
greek yogurt caesar dressing
- 4 garlic minced, cloves
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- ½ lemon juiced
- salt kosher salt
- black pepper kosher salt
- ⅓ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add in the sourdough pieces with a pinch of salt. Cook, tossing often, until they are golden and toasty and crisp. Turn off the heat.
- Place the romaine in a large bowl and toss with a big pinch of salt and pepper. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of the caesar dressing. Add in the finely grated parmesan. Toss the lettuce well so everything is coated. Add in the cooked pasta and toss it well, adding more dressing if you would like. Toss until everything is combined and well coated.
- Top with the shaved parmesan and the sourdough croutons. Serve with extra dressing and more parmesan cheese. You can use this as a base salad for chicken, steak, salmon, chickpeas, etc.
greek yogurt caesar dressing
- To make the dressing, add the garlic, yogurt, parmesan, mustard, vinegar, anchovy paste, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a food processor or blender and blend until pureed. With the processor still on, stream in the olive oil until a creamy dressing forms. (This may make more dressing than needed, but you can store it sealed in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days and stir well before using.)
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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