The Perfect Cheeses To Complement Your Caesar Salad

A Caesar salad is a classic dish that combines crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy, tangy dressing. While the ingredients may seem simple, the key to a great Caesar salad lies in the quality of its components and the technique used to assemble them. The type of cheese used in a Caesar salad can significantly impact its overall taste and texture.

Parmesan cheese: shaved or shredded

Parmesan cheese is a key ingredient in a classic Caesar salad. It adds a salty, nutty flavour to the dish. You can buy it pre-shaved or use a potato peeler or vegetable peeler to cut it into thin shavings yourself.

Shaved Parmesan is a popular choice for Caesar salads. It is often preferred because of the way it blends seamlessly with the other ingredients. The thin, flat shape of the shavings means they can easily stick to the lettuce leaves and croutons, ensuring you get cheese in every bite. Shaved Parmesan also has a softer, more delicate texture that melts in your mouth.

Shredded Parmesan, on the other hand, has a coarser texture that can add a satisfying bite to the salad. It is also a good option if you want to make sure the cheese is more evenly distributed throughout the salad. Shredded Parmesan can get stuck in the croutons and other ingredients, adding a cheesy crunch.

Ultimately, the decision to use shaved or shredded Parmesan on your Caesar salad comes down to personal preference. Both types of cheese will enhance the flavour of the dish and provide a delicious salty kick. You could even use a combination of the two, as suggested by one source, to get the best of both worlds and add a variety of textures to your salad.

Homemade croutons

Ingredients:

You'll need just a few basic ingredients for your homemade croutons:

• Bread: Go for a day or two-old loaf of bread for extra crispiness. Hearty loaves with an airy crumb, like sourdough, are ideal, but you can also use a French baguette, ciabatta, dinner rolls, or even hot dog buns.
• Olive Oil: This is what you'll use to coat your bread cubes and help them toast to a golden brown.
• Seasonings: The possibilities are endless, but some popular options include Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Feel free to experiment with other spices and herbs like parsley, oregano, or thyme.

Instructions:

Now, let's get into the step-by-step process of making your homemade croutons:

• Dice your bread: Cut your bread into uniform cubes, aiming for a size of about 3/4-inch. This ensures that your croutons cook evenly.
• Toss with oil and seasonings: In a large bowl, drizzle your bread cubes with olive oil and then sprinkle on your desired seasonings. Toss everything together until the bread cubes are evenly coated.
• Spread on a baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out your seasoned bread cubes in a single layer.
• Bake: Pop your baking sheet into an oven preheated to around 350-375°F. Bake for 10-15 minutes, tossing the croutons halfway through, until they're crispy and golden brown. Keep a close eye on them to avoid burning.
• Cool and store: Once your croutons are done, let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container or a ziplock bag. They'll stay fresh for up to two weeks.

And there you have it! Homemade croutons to take your Caesar salad to the next level. Enjoy the crunch and impress your guests with your culinary skills!

Anchovy and garlic dressing

A classic Caesar salad is an easy-to-make, delicious dish that is perfect for a variety of occasions. The key to a great Caesar salad is the dressing, and the best dressings are homemade. A good Caesar salad dressing should be creamy and tangy, with a subtle hint of anchovy and garlic.

Ingredients

To make an anchovy and garlic Caesar dressing, you will need:

• Anchovy fillets
• Garlic
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Parmesan cheese
• Egg yolks
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dijon mustard
• Black pepper

Method

First, make an anchovy-garlic paste by finely chopping the anchovies and garlic together. You can use a blender or food processor for this step. Next, whisk in the egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, and anchovy-garlic paste. While continuing to whisk, slowly drizzle in the olive oil to create a thick, creamy emulsion. Finally, stir in the Parmesan cheese and season with black pepper to taste.

Tips

• Use pasteurized egg yolks if serving to the very young or elderly, or if you are uncomfortable using raw eggs.
• For a vegetarian option, use vegetarian Parmesan cheese and vegan Worcestershire sauce.
• If you don't like anchovies, you can replace them with extra capers for a similar briny, salty flavor.
• The dressing can be made up to 48 hours in advance and stored in the fridge.

Romaine lettuce

When assembling the salad, the lettuce should be tossed with the dressing first, and then the croutons should be added and tossed again. Shaved Parmesan can be added for both garnish and seasoning. The salad should be served as soon as possible after assembly to ensure the lettuce remains crisp.

Add-ins: chicken, fish, steak, chickpeas, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, avocado

Chicken

A classic chicken Caesar salad features crunchy croutons and a creamy, garlic dressing. To make it, rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, season, and cook in a pan for 4 minutes on each side. For the dressing, mash anchovies with a fork and mix with garlic, mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, and grated parmesan. Toss the dressing with the lettuce, croutons, and shredded chicken.

Fish

Fish, such as salmon or shrimp, is a great addition to a Caesar salad. For a salmon Caesar salad, top the salad with parmesan-crusted salmon. For a shrimp Caesar salad, simply add shrimp to the salad with the dressing.

Steak

A grilled steak Caesar salad is a beefy, cheesy, and easy dish to make. To make it, sprinkle a sirloin steak with pepper and grill to your desired doneness. Toss the lettuce, croutons, and parmesan with the dressing, and top with the sliced steak.

Chickpeas

A vegan take on the classic Caesar salad, this version uses chickpeas and a dressing made from blended raw cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, mustard, miso paste, and caper brine. The chickpeas and croutons are roasted separately and added to the salad with kale and romaine lettuce.

Eggs

A unique twist on the classic, this Caesar salad features soft-boiled eggs and bacon. Fry the bacon until crispy and set aside. Boil the eggs to your desired doneness and cut into quarters. For the dressing, blend an egg, anchovies, mustard, lime juice, garlic, and olive oil. Toss the lettuce with the dressing, croutons, and bacon, and top with the boiled eggs and grated cheddar cheese.

Tomatoes

A tomato Caesar salad is a unique take on the classic, featuring a mix of colourful cherry tomatoes. For the dressing, whisk together garlic, salt, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and olive oil. Drizzle the dressing over the romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and anchovies. Grate or shave parmesan over the salad and finish with pepper.

Cucumbers

A refreshing take on the classic, this Caesar salad features cucumber ribbons and grape tomatoes. Peel and slice the cucumbers, removing the seeds, and place in a kitchen towel to remove excess moisture. For the dressing, combine grated parmesan, lemon juice, mayonnaise, olive oil, garlic, anchovy paste, salt, and pepper in a jar and shake until combined. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat.

Peppers

Peppers are not mentioned in any of the sources. However, roasted red peppers are suggested as an addition to a classic Caesar salad in one source.

Radishes

Radishes are not mentioned in any of the sources. However, sliced radishes are suggested as an addition to a classic Caesar salad in one source.

Avocado

Avocado is a great addition to a classic Caesar salad, especially when paired with shrimp or chicken. It can also be added to a tomato Caesar salad for some extra creaminess. For an avocado Caesar dressing, blend mashed avocado, garlic, lemon juice, anchovies, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, parmesan, salt, pepper, water, and almond milk.

Frequently asked questions