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February 24, 2021

Homemade Caesar Dressing

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Homemade Caesar Dressing

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If you'd like your family to eat more salad, this Caesar dressing could be a game-changer. Families call this dressing "the Magic Dressing" because it's proven to get even picky eaters to eat their greens. Packed with nutrients, it's also great as a dip for vegetables. You'll find more tips and serving ideas after the recipe. 

Ingredients

Scale

2 cloves fresh garlic

1 egg yolk

8-10 good-quality anchovies packed in oil

1 scant (just barely a) tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4-1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 fresh-grated Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Place garlic and anchovies in a small food processor and blend.

Add the egg yolk, Dijon, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and Tabasco. Blend again.

Add olive oil and fresh ground pepper and blend. 

Add cheese and blend.

Taste to see if you want more lemon, olive oil, or pepper. 

Put some dressing in a salad bowl, add the romaine lettuce, toss, and serve. Store the extra dressing to use over the next few days. 

Take your Caesar salad to the next level with easy homemade croutons.

 

Caesar salad with extra shaved Parmesan cheese and homemade croutons

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Homemade croutons — a good freezer staple

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Making Caesar dressing in a mini food processor

A mini cuisinart blender with the caesar salad ingredients

Caesar dressing

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Caesar salad with extra Parmesan — kids love it and it's extra yummy

Caesar Salad with shavings of fresh parmesean in a vintage wooden salad bowl

Notes:

The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Even if you think your family won’t like anchovies, give them a try. The taste of the anchovies is not obvious, but the improvement they offer to the dressing is notable. It blends with the other ingredients and adds a layer of flavor to the dressing. It’s like when you eat something really good but you’re not sure what it is that's making it delicious. In addition to the remarkable flavor, there are tremendous health benefits to anchovies. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamins such as vitamins C, B12, A, E, K, and B6. Adding some anchovies to your family menu is a win-win for taste and health.

Serving Ideas:

  • Serve with chopped romaine lettuce. I often “sneak in” a small amount of spinach or kale.
  • Use as a dip for veggies for kids.
  • Drizzle on steamed or roasted vegetables.
  • Use it as a sandwich spread. 
  • Toss with pasta and chicken — I did this when I had leftover chicken and dressing and was in a pinch for something for dinner.  
  • Instead of chopping the romaine lettuce, lay the leaves on a plate and drizzle them with dressing. Use a vegetable peeler to shave fresh Parmesan on top, and add a few homemade croutons. Changing how you serve a dish creates something new and exciting! 
  • Warm some pancetta in a pan and add crispy pancetta to your Caesar salad.

 

Caesar with whole romaine leaves

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Caesar with pan fried pancetta 

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I often cook "au pif," as we say in France, which means cooking without an exact recipe and by "feel" using your intuition.  You’ll find guidelines in many recipes versus exact quantities.  Write to me here if you have any questions about the recipes.

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