Recipe

My Classic Caesar

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My Classic Caesar

Photo by lastnightsdinner

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Caesar Salad
  • A&M's Testing Notes: Lastnightsdinner's recipe offers everything you expect in a great Caesar salad. Most people would never know there was an anchovy or two involved -- they're fully incorporated into the creamy...

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  • Chef

    lastnightsdinner's Notes: I’ve made countless Caesar salads in my lifetime, some with fried oysters or with breaded, deep fried cubes of pork belly confit in place of croutons, some deconstructed and served with a...

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Serves 2-4

Caesar Dressing:

2-4 fat cloves garlic Ask the
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4 anchovy filets Ask the
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a big pinch of flaky sea salt Ask the
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2 egg yolks (reserve the whites for another use) Ask the
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juice of half a lemon Ask the
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1/4 to 1/2 cup best quality extra virgin olive oil Ask the
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  1. Combine the garlic and anchovies in the small bowl of a food processor, add the salt, and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the egg yolks and lemon juice then with the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil until you have a smooth, creamy emulsion. Taste for seasoning and use immediately or refrigerate.

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Classic Caesar Salad:

1.5 cups cubed country bread (about 1 inch chunks) Ask the
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2 cloves garlic Ask the
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1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Ask the
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Kosher or sea salt Ask the
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1 head Romaine lettuce Ask the
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1 recipe Caesar Dressing Ask the
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1/2 cup freshly grated Parmagiano Reggiano, plus additional for serving Ask the
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freshly ground black pepper Ask the
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additional anchovies for serving (optional) Ask the
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  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel the garlic cloves, smash them with the side of a knife, and chop them fine. Toss the bread cubes with the garlic, olive oil, and a pinch or two of salt, place them on a sheet pan and bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.

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  2. Trim the Romaine, removing any wilted outer leaves, then tear or chop into about 1 inch pieces. Rinse and dry well in a kitchen towel or a salad spinner, if you have one. Refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the salad.

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  3. Just before serving, pour a bit of the dressing into a big salad bowl. Add the lettuce and toss with your hands to coat the leaves. Add the grated cheese and several grindings of black pepper, add the croutons, and drizzle more of the dressing on, again tossing so that everything is nicely coated. You can pass additional grated cheese at the table, but I like to use a vegetable peeler to shave off big shards of cheese, scattering them over the top of the salad. Serve with additional anchovies for the fearless, and finish with more freshly ground pepper if desired.

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Cheese_for_twitter0001 Reply

Hi LastNight'sDinner,

I've got some folks who are freaked out by raw eggs. Could I get them to 180 degrees over a water bath and then add them and get the same sort of results here. I love the simplicity of this dressing and the taste but have to accommodate these guests.

026 Reply

Try using pasteurized eggs. Carton should be prominently marked with a "P". I think that will solve your egg freak-out problem.

Cheese_for_twitter0001 Reply

We used the commercial version of past. egg yolksi n cooking school, but I have yet to find them in a retial establishment, at least not here in central PA.

Lnd_jen Reply

I don't see why not - if you try it, please let me know how it worked out?

Img_1445 Reply

I made your dressing today. After mixing all the ingredients, I tasted it and thought, "Wow, that isn't at all what I was expecting." I then looked at the tin of anchovies I used and realized I had used sardines. I don't recommend it.
I can't wait to actually try your recipe with all the correct ingredients!

Lnd_jen Reply

Thanks, everyone! I have to say that just tonight I served this to my parents, and they had no idea there were anchovies in the dressing until I told them - after they finished their salads, of course, sneaky me :) They loved it!

Mrs Reply

This sounds so perfect. Can't wait to try it!

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Thumbs up!

026 Reply

It's never wrong to stay true to the classics. Good luck!

Lnd_jen Reply

Thank you!

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

Sounds wonderful...just got to Atlanta for a few days...hope that I can find somewhere tonight to have a Caesar Salad!

Lnd_jen Reply

Thanks - enjoy Atlanta!

Reply

This is making my mouth water. I love a really good fresh Caesar salad!

Lnd_jen Reply

Thank you!

Img_1045_2 Reply

I am growing romaine and just peeked out to the garden to see if I have enough for salad. Two more days until I can try this - what looks to be the perfect recipe. Thanks, Jen!

Lnd_jen Reply

Thanks, and I hope you like it! I'm actually making it later this week while my parents are here visiting :)

Winnie100 Reply

Looks like a perfect Caesar salad to me!

Lnd_jen Reply

Thanks, Winnie!

Lnd_jen Reply

When I first tried my ex mother-in-law's version, I was a confirmed anchovy hater, and I was really surprised at how they just blended into the dressing. If I didn't know they were there I probably wouldn't have guessed, and I've been making my Caesars with anchovies ever since. You can certainly dial them down to start if you're concerned that they'll be too much, starting with one or two and then increasing the amounts from there until you find what works for you.

Reply

This looks delicious. Do you need to really love anchovies to make this version? I'm a bit on the fence on them, in terns of how much intensity of the flavor I like.

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