Caesar Salad
The dressing is the recipe. Everything else is assembly.
Ingredients
- 6 cup Romaine lettuce
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Lemon
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 tsp Mustard powder
- ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
- 1 cup Croutons (optional)
Method
- Chop the romaine into bite-size pieces and pile into a large bowl.
- Crush the garlic to a paste and juice the lemon into a separate bowl.
- Whisk the oil, Worcestershire, mustard powder, salt, and pepper into the garlic and lemon until the dressing emulsifies.
- Toss the romaine with the dressing until every leaf is lightly coated.
- Top with the parmigiano and croutons and serve.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is the crisp romaine classic that began in the kitchens of Tijuana in the 1920s and went on to become a fixture of Italian-American restaurant menus everywhere. Despite all the versions that have followed, the salad has always really been about its dressing, an emulsified blend of olive oil, lemon, garlic, and savory notes from Worcestershire and mustard whisked until it clings to every leaf. Everything else, the sturdy romaine, the shaved parmesan, the croutons, is essentially assembly around that one anchor.
What you taste is balance: garlicky and tangy from the lemon, with a deep savory backbone and a salty, nutty finish from the Parmigiano. Crushing the garlic to a paste and emulsifying it properly is what keeps the dressing creamy and evenly coating rather than thin and separated. Made fresh, it works as a light lunch, a starter, or a side, and the crunch of romaine against the rich dressing and crisp croutons is the whole reason it has stayed on tables for a century.
Caesar Salad: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Caesar Salad?
A serving has about 167 calories — 5.9g protein, 4.9g carbs, 14.2g fat, 1.7g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Caesar Salad gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Croutons. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Caesar Salad dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Parmigiano-Reggiano. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Caesar Salad take to make?
About 15 minutes start to finish, but only around 9 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Caesar Salad?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out croutons — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Caesar Salad make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.