Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons
User Reviews
4.4
Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons
Description
The Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons combines fresh romaine lettuce with a rich and tangy dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and Tabasco sauce. This dressing delivers a savory, creamy flavor with a slight bite from vinegar and garlic, and a subtle heat from Tabasco.
The garlic croutons are made by coating sturdy sourdough bread cubes in olive oil infused with golden, lightly toasted garlic slices, then baked until crisp. After baking, they are tossed with fresh parsley, salt, and pepper, adding a fresh herbal quality and balanced seasoning that complements the creamy dressing and crisp lettuce.
The salad is finished with extra Parmesan cheese ribbons and fresh ground black pepper, offering an ideal balance of textures and flavors. Anchovies can be omitted, substituting additional Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice, adapting the dressing while keeping the characteristic Caesar taste.
Both dressing and croutons can be made in advance: the dressing keeps up to two weeks refrigerated, and croutons store up to two weeks in an airtight container or freeze for longer. This makes it practical for meal prep or entertaining.
Ingredients
For the Caesar Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon anchovies or anchovy paste, mashed
- 1 clove garlic , pressed
- ¼ tablespoons Parmesan Cheese , grated
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
- 2-3 Tabasco sauce dashes
For the Garlic Croutons
- 4 cups bread cubes , cut into ¾ inch squares (from a sturdy bread like sourdough)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic thinly sliced, cloves
- 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley minced, Italian
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
For the Caesar Salad
- 8 cups romaine lettuce rinsed and patted dry, hearts
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese , cut into ribbons
- salt to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
- black pepper to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
Instructions
For the Caesar Dressing
- Add all of the ingredients to a small glass canning jar with a fitted lid and shake well to combine. Or, add to a medium-sized bowl and whisk to combine.
For the Garlic Croutons
- Preheat the oven to 375° F.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and set aside. Heat the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat until the garlic begins to turn golden and becomes fragrant, about 4-5 minutes. Be careful the garlic doesn’t burn or it will taste bitter. Strain or pick the garlic cloves out of the oil and discard or save for another use.
- Drizzle the oil over the bread cubes and toss to coat. Scatter onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the bread cubes are golden, flipping the cubes occasionally.
- Remove from the oven and add back to the bowl. Toss with the parsley and salt and pepper and set aside to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
For the Caesar Salad
- Chop or tear the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place in a large serving bowl. Drizzle with ⅓ cup of the Caesar dressing and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle with half of the grated Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of the croutons and toss again.
- Top with the rest of the grated Parmesan, Parmesan ribbons, and more croutons as desired. Season with kosher salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
Notes
- If avoiding anchovies, replace with 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon lemon juice for a similar flavor depth.
- Store leftover dressing in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness.
- Keep leftover garlic croutons in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, or freeze them for up to 2 months for extended storage.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 385 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 385kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 34g | 52% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 26mg | 9% |
| Sodium | 508mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 181mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 3474IU | 69% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 132mg | 13% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.4
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