Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
Caesar salad is one of my favorite cool-weather go-to salads and I make it often. Guests love it. For the Vegan Family, this can be a beautiful substitute for you, and of course minus anchovies as we shall see later in this recipe. Homemade Caesar salad dressing can’t miss being a hit for your guests. Many folks are put off by the addition of anchovies and I used to be one of them until I learned something.
Rinsing anchovies well and patting them dry eliminates the harsh taste so many find unpleasant, yet retains the desired earthy taste adding depth to the dressing’s flavor. This is what I usually do.
The dressing also does not have to contain anchovies; other ingredients such as garlic and Worcestershire sauce can be used instead. There are many variations of the dressing. Some use mayonnaise instead of sour cream and Parmesan cheese instead of Romano cheese.
How Traditional or Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing is Made
Traditional Caesar dressing is a creamy, tangy dressing made with garlic, anchovies, olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and Parmesan cheese. It is usually served over romaine lettuce with croutons and extra Parmesan cheese.
The dressing can be made by combining all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blending until smooth. Alternatively, it can be made by hand by whisking all the ingredients together in a bowl until combined. Another salad idea that could love and try is this.
Ingredients Needed For Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
Homemade Caesar dressing is a delicious, creamy, and flavorful dressing that is great for salads. It’s very easy to make and tastes just like the store-bought kind. Ingredients needed for this recipe include:
2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 cup of olive oil (or canola or vegetable oil), and 1 clove of minced garlic.
Are There Any Variations To Traditional Caesar Dressing?
While the traditional recipe is delicious, there are many variations that can be made to suit different tastes. For instance, soy sauce can be used in place of Worcestershire sauce for a more Asian-inspired flavor.
Olive oil can also be used in place of vegetable oil for a slightly healthier version. For a creamy version, mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt can be added to the mix.
Finally, adding protein such as grilled chicken or shrimp can make it a meal in itself. No matter what variation you choose, Caesar dressing is sure to please!
Tips For Making The Perfect Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
If you are looking to make the perfect Caesar dressing at home, there are a few tips and tricks that you should keep in mind. First, use good quality ingredients such as fresh garlic and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Second, use high-quality olive oil for the base of your dressing.
Third, add the anchovies gradually until you reach the desired flavor intensity. Finally, adjust the seasoning to your taste by adding more lemon juice or Worcestershire sauce if desired. Once you have mastered the basics of making Caesar salad dressing at home, you can experiment with different variations. Just herbs or spices such as oregano or red pepper flakes.
Making A Vegan Version of Caesar Dressing
The first thing I would do is make sure the ingredients are vegan. If they are, the problem might be the egg yolk (or your taste). caesar dressing starts with olive oil and garlic, so I would suggest you try adding some nutritional yeast to your dressing.
Nutritional yeast tastes like a cheese-y garlic flavor, so it might be able to give you that cheese taste. It’s also high in B vitamins.
Caesar salad dressing is also made with lemon juice and egg yolks. For the lemon juice, I would recommend trying lime juice since it’s a little bit milder than lemon (which can sometimes taste bitter when paired with olive oil). For the egg yolks, I would recommend using an immersion blender (or a food processor) and blending up tofu until it’s smooth.
Tofu has a similar texture to egg yolks and has the bonus of being high in protein. You could also try mixing silken tofu with nutritional yeast and lemon juice to get a similar texture and flavor as caesar dressing. Try adding more vegan mayonnaise to your recipe since it has a stronger flavor than plain tofu and will be easier to mask the flavor of the tofu if it’s too strong for you.
Try adding some vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast to your recipe. This is for extra flavor since they’re both high in B vitamins. If you want an extra cheesy flavor in your caesar dressing, try adding some veganaise or vegan sour cream (or liquid from a can of chickpeas) in addition to the tofu or nutritional yeast. You can also try this favorite dish if you are looking for some vegan ideas.
Some Creative Ways To Use Caesar Salad Dressing
Some creative ways to use Caesar dressing include:
As a marinade for meat before grilling or frying – With pasta as a substitute for alfredo sauce – With chicken and/or shrimp and/or fish as a salad dressing – With potatoes as a topping for baked potatoes – On eggs Benedict
Sauce for pizza or lasagna – With salad greens as a salad dressing or dip for crudités. Caeser Dressing is also great for marinating chicken, pork, fish or shrimp before cooking. Just add some garlic powder, pepper and salt to taste.
You can also use Caeser Dressing as a dip with some crudites or even as a salad dressing with your favorite greens and toppings. It is delicious! What are your favorite creative uses for homemade Caesar salad Dressing? What do you like to put it on? Would love to try your challenge and see how it goes 🤗 Let me know in the comments!
What Is The Best Way To Store Homemade Caesar Dressing?
Store homemade Caesar salad dressing in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Caesar dressing will last for up to 10 days in the fridge, but the longer you keep it, the more likely it is that it will go bad.
Caesar salad dressing does not require any special preparation prior to use, but it does need to be freshly prepared.
Homemade Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 anchovies
- pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp. lemon, juice only
- 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼-½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup Parmesan Reggiano, grated
Instructions
- Using a mortar and pestle, mash together the garlic, salt and anchovies until a paste forms.
- Transfer this to a bowl and add the mustard, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk to combine.
- Add the egg yolk and while whisking vigorously, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream to emulsify.
- Start with ¼ cup of oil and add to the consistency desired. Add the parmesan and season with black pepper.
