Make a restaurant-quality classic Caesar salad with crisp romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, a rich and creamy homemade dressing, and crunchy flavor-packed homemade croutons!
Preheat the oven to 350°F/175ºC and toss the oil and seasonings in a large bowl, mixing well.
Cube the bread into ½ or ¾ inch pieces, then chuck them into the bowl and toss well to evenly coat.
Spread them across a baking tray and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, flipping once halfway. They're ready when they're golden brown and crisp.
If you want to toss them with parmesan, do so now while they're still warm. Then leave them to cool entirely before using, as they’ll continue to crisp up as they do.
Make the Creamy Dressing
Combine all the dressing ingredients in a food processor (or use an immersion blender) and process until smooth and creamy. Pause to scrape down the sides as needed.
Drizzle in water until it's the correct consistency (slowly flows off a spoon), taste, adjust seasonings if necessary, and enjoy.For a better flavor, prepare it 30-60 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Assemble the Caesar Salad
Slice the romaine lettuce into 1-inch wide pieces (wash it before or after cutting - I prefer after - then pat dry with paper towels). Transfer the lettuce to a large salad bowl.
Shave the parmesan with a vegetable/potato peeler. I like to use a combination of shaved and finely shredded parmesan.
Add the dressing and use tongs to toss the two ingredients until the leaves are evenly coated.
Add the parmesan and croutons, toss once more, and enjoy!Optionally garnish with some freshly cracked black pepper and/or lemon wedges.
Storage Instructions
You can prepare all the separate elements (dressing, croutons, and chopped lettuce) 2-3 days in advance and store them separately in airtight containers (keep the croutons at room temperature).Once assembled, enjoy the salad immediately, before the croutons become soggy.
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Notes
Use fresh ingredients: i.e., fresh, crisp lettuce, freshly grated parmesan, homemade fresh croutons and dressing, etc., for the best flavor.
For the crispest salad: Use the inner romaine lettuce leaves and leave them to chill in the refrigerator until it comes time to assemble the salad.
Tweak the flavors: After preparing the salad dressing, give it a taste and adjust any of the ingredients to your liking for your desired flavor profile. Even better, allow the flavors to meld for 30-60 minutes before tasting and adjusting.
Toss the salad well: The key is to toss the dressing and lettuce leaves thoroughly so every single bite is well coated.
Add croutons when serving: They'll become soggy when left to sit in the salad.
Adding ingredients: Make a heartier salad with protein (like chicken, shrimp, steak, or tofu), crumbled bacon bits, creamy avocado, roasted or grilled veggies, etc.