Randy Chandler
A classic Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy dressing. The dressing is typically made with raw egg yolks, olive oil, garlic, and sometimes anchovies, and is seasoned with black pepper. The romaine lettuce should be cut into bite-sized pieces and washed under cool running water before being dried thoroughly. The croutons can be made by baking or frying bread pieces in oil or butter until golden brown. Finally, the salad should be assembled by tossing the romaine with the dressing, adding the croutons, and then garnishing with shaved Parmesan cheese and lemon wedges.
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What You'll Learn
Parmesan is the classic choice
When preparing a Caesar salad, it is recommended to cut the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and wash them under cool running water before drying thoroughly. The lettuce should be kept cold and dry to maintain crispness. The dressing is then added to the lettuce, followed by croutons, which can be homemade or store-bought. Finally, shaved Parmesan is added for garnish and seasoning. It is important to taste and adjust the seasoning with pepper or more dressing after adding the cheese due to its salty flavour.
Some variations of the Caesar salad recipe include using sourdough bread or baguette for the croutons, adding protein such as grilled chicken, and using a creamy Caesar dressing. The dressing can be made without anchovies or raw egg yolk, and extra virgin olive oil may be substituted with a lighter-flavoured oil.
Overall, Parmesan is an essential ingredient in a classic Caesar salad, adding a distinctive savoury and salty flavour to the dish. Its versatility in being used as both a topping and in the dressing makes it the ideal choice for this beloved salad.
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Freshly grate, shred or shave the Parmesan
Grating, shredding, or shaving your own Parmesan cheese is the best way to prepare this ingredient for a Caesar salad. Freshly grated Parmesan will have a better flavour and texture than pre-shredded cheese, which often contains additives and preservatives. To get the best texture, it is recommended to grate the Parmesan yourself, as this will result in a fluffier, more flavourful product.
To grate Parmesan cheese, use a box grater or a food processor with a grating attachment. You can also use a microplane grater for a finer texture. Grate the cheese just before adding it to your salad, as grated Parmesan can clump together and lose its fluffy texture if it sits too long.
Shredded Parmesan can be made using a similar method, but with a slightly different tool. A box grater will have two sides that can be used for shredding: one with larger holes and one with smaller holes. The side with larger holes will create a longer, thicker shred, while the smaller holes will produce a finer, shorter shred. It is recommended to use both sides to get a variety of textures in your Caesar salad.
Shaving Parmesan can be done with a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife. Hold the peeler or knife at a slight angle to the cheese block and carefully drag it across the surface to create thin, delicate shavings. This method is best for adding a decorative touch to your salad as it produces larger pieces of cheese.
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Parmesan adds a savoury, salty flavour
Parmesan cheese is a key ingredient in a classic Caesar salad. It adds a savoury, salty flavour to the dish. Freshly grated, shredded, or shaved Parmesan is best, as it has a better flavour and texture than pre-shredded Parmesan, which may contain additives or preservatives. Parmesan can be used in the salad in a few different ways. Firstly, it is an essential ingredient in the creamy Caesar salad dressing, which also typically includes garlic, olive oil, anchovies, and black pepper. Secondly, shaved or shredded Parmesan can be added to the salad as a garnish and seasoning. The salty flavour of Parmesan means that the seasoning of the salad may need to be adjusted after adding the cheese. Finally, Parmesan can be used to make the croutons that are another essential component of a classic Caesar salad. To make Parmesan croutons, bread is tossed in olive oil and minced garlic, sprinkled with grated Parmesan, and then baked until golden and crisp.
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Parmesan can be used in the dressing
Parmesan cheese is a key ingredient in a classic Caesar salad. It can be used in the dressing, as a garnish, or as a seasoning. When used in the dressing, Parmesan adds a savoury, salty flavour that complements the other classic Caesar salad ingredients, such as romaine lettuce, croutons, and garlic.
To make a classic Caesar salad dressing with Parmesan cheese, you will need the following ingredients:
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, shredded, or shaved
- Olive oil or a neutral-flavoured oil, such as avocado oil
- Garlic, freshly minced or pressed
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dijon mustard (optional)
- Egg yolk and/or whole egg
- Anchovy fillets or anchovy paste (optional)
- Black pepper
First, combine the garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard (if using), egg, anchovy (if using), and pepper in a blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth. With the blender running on low speed, slowly drizzle in the oil in a thin, slow stream. This step will take a few minutes, but it is important for creating the right consistency for your dressing.
Once you have added all of the oil, add the Parmesan cheese. Pulse the blender a few times to combine the cheese with the other ingredients. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning, if needed. If you prefer a thicker dressing, you can add more Parmesan cheese.
When making a Caesar salad, it is important to use fresh ingredients, especially when it comes to the lemon juice and garlic. You can prepare the dressing in advance and store it in the fridge for up to three days. However, it is best to combine the lettuce, croutons, and dressing right before serving to ensure the lettuce stays crisp and fresh.
When assembling your Caesar salad, start by tossing the romaine lettuce with the dressing. Then, add the croutons and toss again. Finally, add some shaved Parmesan cheese on top for garnish and extra flavour. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with pepper or more dressing, as needed.
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Parmesan can be used as a garnish
Parmesan is a key ingredient in a classic Caesar salad. It is used in the dressing, as well as a garnish. When using Parmesan as a garnish, it is important to remember that it is a salty cheese, so it is best to adjust the seasoning after adding it to the salad. It can be shaved, shredded or grated and sprinkled on top of the salad. It can also be added to croutons for extra flavour.
Freshly grated, shredded or shaved Parmesan is preferable to pre-shredded as it has a better flavour and texture, and it does not contain any additives or preservatives. Parmesan can be purchased pre-shredded or pre-grated, or bought as a wedge and grated at home. Buying a wedge and grating it yourself allows you to achieve a variety of textures, such as larger shreds and a granular texture.
When garnishing a Caesar salad with Parmesan, it is important to consider the amount of cheese already in the salad. The dressing contains Parmesan, and the croutons may also be coated in it. Therefore, the amount of Parmesan used as a garnish can be adjusted to taste and to ensure the salad is not overwhelmed by the salty flavour of the cheese.
As Parmesan has a strong flavour, it is important to taste the salad after adding the garnish and adjust the seasoning as needed. This can be done by adding more pepper or dressing, or even adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavours of the salad.
In addition to garnishing the salad, Parmesan can be used to make Parmesan crisps or crackers to accompany the Caesar salad. This can be done by melting grated Parmesan into small rounds on a baking sheet and allowing them to cool and crisp up. These can add a crunchy texture to the salad when broken up and sprinkled on top, or served on the side as a tasty, savoury accompaniment.
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Frequently asked questions
Grated, shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese is used in a Caesar salad.
A classic Caesar salad typically includes romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a light Caesar dressing.
To make a Caesar salad dressing, combine garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, capers, egg, anchovy fillets, and pepper in a blender. Blend until smooth, then slowly drizzle in olive oil. Finally, add Parmesan cheese and pulse to combine.
Parmesan is the classic choice for a Caesar salad, but other mild cheeses such as Asiago or Gruyere could also work well.
