**Almost Authentic Caesar Salad: A Culinary Journey into Roman Gastronomy**
In the realm of salads, Caesar salad reigns supreme, captivating taste buds with its symphony of flavors and textures. This iconic dish, believed to have originated in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920s, has since become a global sensation, gracing menus from casual bistros to fine-dining establishments. Its allure lies in the perfect balance of creamy, tangy dressing, crisp romaine lettuce, and savory croutons, all culminating in a symphony of flavors that leaves diners craving more.
This article presents a culinary journey into the world of Caesar salad, offering three unique recipes that capture the essence of this classic dish while adding a touch of innovation. From the traditional Almost Authentic Caesar Salad, which stays true to the original recipe, to the Vegan Caesar Salad, which caters to plant-based preferences, and the Caesar Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing, which infuses a nutty, aromatic flavor, this collection promises a delightful experience for every palate. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a culinary adventure that will transport you to the heart of Roman gastronomy.
CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Soak the anchovies in a bowl of water, 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry, then finely chop and mash to form a paste; set aside.
- Make the croutons: Combine the butter with the garlic in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; cook, swirling the pan occasionally, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour into a medium bowl. Add the bread cubes and parsley and toss; season with salt and pepper. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 10 minutes; let cool.
- Meanwhile, make the dressing: Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Gently lower the egg into the water, then immediately remove the pan from the heat and let stand 5 minutes. Drain and rinse the egg under cold water; crack into a large bowl. Whisk in the anchovy paste, the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and mustard powder until smooth. Whisk in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream until emulsified; season with salt and pepper.
- Add the lettuce, croutons and about one-third of the Parmesan to the bowl with the dressing and gently toss. Divide among plates and top with the remaining Parmesan.
THE BEST CAESAR SALAD RECIPE
Our Caesar salad takes the best from Julia Child's and Caesar Cardini's recipes: crisp inner romaine leaves, crunchy croutons, and a little or a lot of anchovy, as you like, all tossed together in a creamy dressing.
Provided by J. Kenji López-Alt
Categories Appetizer Quick and Easy Salads Salad
Time 25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons (45ml) olive oil with minced garlic and whisk for 30 seconds. Transfer to a fine-mesh strainer set over a large bowl and press with the back of a spoon to extract as much oil as possible, leaving garlic behind. Reserve pressed garlic separately. Add bread cubes to garlic oil and toss to coat.
- Add 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, toss again, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until croutons are pale golden brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and toss with 2 more tablespoons Parmesan. Allow to cool.
- While croutons bake, make the dressing. Combine egg yolk, lemon juice, anchovies, Worcestershire sauce, pressed garlic, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese in the bottom of a cup that just fits the head of an immersion blender or in the bottom of a food processor. With blender or processor running, slowly drizzle in canola oil until a smooth emulsion forms. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in remaining 1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil. Season to taste generously with salt and pepper.
- To serve, toss lettuce with a few tablespoons of dressing, adding more if desired. Once lettuce is coated, add half of remaining cheese and three-quarters of croutons and toss again. Transfer to a salad bowl and sprinkle with remaining cheese and croutons. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 554 kcal, Carbohydrate 28 g, Cholesterol 114 mg, Fiber 7 g, Protein 15 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 868 mg, Sugar 5 g, Fat 44 g, ServingSize Serves 4, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD
There's a reason clichés like Caesar salad and iceberg with blue cheese dressing have become hyper-common: they're just good. The combination of cold crunchiness, mild bitterness and salty dressings is everlastingly refreshing and satisfying. This authentic version (get out those anchovies and eggs) from Mark Bittman does not disappoint.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories easy, quick, salads and dressings
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put 2 tablespoons of the oil in a skillet large enough to hold the bread in a single layer and turn heat to medium. When oil shimmers, add bread and sprinkle with salt and pepper; brown lightly on all sides, adding a little more oil if necessary. Remove and set aside.
- Rub the inside of a salad bowl with the garlic clove; discard it. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Pierce a tiny hole in the broad end of each egg with a pin or needle and boil them for 60 to 90 seconds; they will just begin to firm up. Crack them into the salad bowl, being sure to scoop out the white that clings to the shell.
- Beat eggs with a fork. Gradually add lemon juice and 6 tablespoons oil, beating all the while. Stir in anchovies and Worcestershire. Taste and add salt if needed, and lots of pepper. Toss well with lettuce; top with Parmesan and croutons; toss again at table. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 405, UnsaturatedFat 26 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 34 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 14 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 662 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CAESAR SALAD (THE ORIGINAL)
This is from Margaret Fultons revised 1968 cookbook (a Christmas present from the DD - my original is rather dog eared and stained) in which she states "This is the authentic recipe made for me by the Cardini family in Mexico, the creataors of the caesar salad. Particular care was taken to lay the tender, elongated cos leaves all in the one direction." Times are estimated.
Provided by ImPat
Categories Salad Dressings
Time 22m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Remove tough outer leaves of the lettuce.
- Wash the tender leaves, sprin dry (or dry in a large clean tea towel) and place in a plastic bag and put in the refrigerator to crisp.
- To make croutons -.
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Cut baguette into thick slices.
- Mash the anchovy fillets and garlic with the butter and spread over the bread slices.
- Place on a baking tray and bake until pale and gold and crisp.
- For the Dressing -.
- With the exception of the egg mix/whisk or put in a jar, seal and shake, all the ingredients together to make the dressing.
- Coddled egg -.
- Lower the egg into a small saucepan of simmering water and simmer for 1 minute, lift out with a slotted spoon.
- Arrange the crisp lettuce leaves in a bowl.
- Add the croutons and break in the coddled egg and add the dressing and turn the salad gently, until the dressing coats the lettuce leaves evenly.
- Serve as soon as possible after dressing (better immediately) - keeps o'kay but not the best. (haven't done myself but from family members that have).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 290.2, Fat 24.8, SaturatedFat 6, Cholesterol 61.5, Sodium 300.9, Carbohydrate 11.9, Fiber 3.9, Sugar 2.7, Protein 7.7
TRADITIONAL CAESAR SALAD
Nothing beats the original, and this is it. It takes a while to prepare, but it's sooooo worth it! Add cooked chicken breast, shrimp, or beef to make a full meal. Don't forget to pass extra anchovies!
Provided by Terri F.
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In small sauce pan, heat butter, olive oil, and garlic from top of recipe.
- When butter is melted, remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Remove garlic, toss bread cubes with butter mixture.
- Spread on baking sheet and bake at 350 F shaking pan once or twice, until croutons are golden brown (about 10 minutes).
- Set aside.
- In large wooden salad bowl, run garlic clove around the inside of the bowl.
- Mash together the 4 cloves of garlic and the 1/2 tsp salt until they form a paste.
- Whisk in lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Mash anchovy fillets in small bowl until they form a paste.
- Add anchovy paste to garlic mixture and whisk well.
- Add 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly.
- Add coddled eggs and whisk until blended.
- Add romaine pieces and croutons, and toss until coated with dressing.
- Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese and toss lightly.
- Serve immediately.
JULIA'S CAESAR SALAD
When Caesar Cardini first served his famous salad in the early 1920s, he used just the hearts of the romaine lettuce, the tender short leaves in the center, and he presented them whole. The salad was tossed and dressed, then arranged on each plate so that you could pick up a leaf by its short end and chew it down bit by bit, then pick up another. However, many customers didn't like to get their fingers covered with egg-and-cheese-and-garlic dressing, and he changed to the conventional torn leaf. Too bad, since the salad lost much of its individuality and drama. You can certainly serve it the original way at home - just provide your guests with plenty of big paper napkins. And plan to be extravagant.
Provided by Julia Child
Categories Salad Cheese Egg Leafy Green No-Cook Parmesan Lemon Fall
Yield Makes 2 to 3 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preparing the salad components:
- You will probably need 2 large heads of romaine for 3 people - or use a commercially prepared package of "romaine hearts," if they appear fresh and fine. From a large head remove the outside leaves until you get down to the cone where the leaves are 4 to 7 inches in length - you'll want 6 to 8 of these leaves per serving. Separate the leaves and wash them carefully to keep them whole, roll them loosely in clean towels, and keep refrigerated until serving time. (Save the remains for other salads - fortunately, romaine keeps reasonably well under refrigeration.
- To flavor the croutons, crush the garlic clove with the flat of a chef's knife, sprinkle on 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and mince well. Pour about a tablespoon of olive oil on the garlic and mash again with the knife, rubbing and pressing to make a soft purée.
- Scrape the purée into the frying pan, add another tablespoon of oil, and warm over low-medium heat. Add the croutons and toss for a minute or two to infuse them with the garlic oil, then remove from the heat. (For a milder garlic flavor, you can strain the purée though a small sieve into a pan before adding the extra croutons. Discard the bits of garlic.)
- To coddle the egg, bring a small saucepan of water to a simmer. Pierce the large end of the egg with a pushpin to prevent cracking, then simmer for exactly 1 minute.
- Mixing and serving the Caesar:
- Dress the salad just before serving. Have ready all the dressing ingredients and a salad fork and spoon for tossing.
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the romaine leaves and toss to coat, lifting the leaves from the bottom and turning them towards you, so they tumble over like a wave. Sprinkle them with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper, toss once or twice, then add the lemon juice and several drops of the Worcestershire, and toss again. Taste for seasoning, and add more, if needed.
- Crack the egg and drop it right on the romaine leaves, then toss to break it up and coat the leaves. Sprinkle on the cheese, toss briefly, then add the croutons (and the garlicky bits in the pan, if you wish) and toss for the last time, just to mix them into the salad.
- Arrange 6 or more leaves in a single layer on individual plates, scatter the croutons all around, and serve.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. - Make sure the romaine lettuce is crisp and dry before assembling the salad. - Use a light hand with the dressing, as too much can overpower the other flavors. - Serve the salad immediately after making it, as the dressing can wilt the lettuce if it sits for too long. - Try adding other ingredients to your Caesar salad, such as grilled chicken, shrimp, or bacon. - Experiment with different types of cheese, such as Parmesan, Asiago, or Romano. - For a more authentic Caesar salad, use homemade croutons. - If you don't have anchovies on hand, you can use Worcestershire sauce or fish sauce as a substitute.Conclusion:
The almost authentic Caesar salad is a delicious and easy-to-make salad that is perfect for any occasion. With its creamy, garlicky dressing and crisp romaine lettuce, it's a classic for a reason. Whether you're serving it as a side dish or a main course, this salad is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy salad recipe, give this almost authentic Caesar salad a try. You won't be disappointed!
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