Caesar Salad

Ingredients

Salad:

  • 1 large romaine lettuce (or 2 little gem lettuces)
  • 1–2 slices of day-old bread, cut into cubes (for croutons)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 30g Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated
  • Optional: grilled chicken, crispy bacon, or veggie alternative

Fresh Caesar dressing:

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, finely grated
  • 2 anchovy fillets (optional)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 50ml olive oil
  • 25g finely grated Parmesan
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Convenient option:

  • Use a good-quality store-bought Caesar dressing
  • Add a squeeze of lemon and extra Parmesan to lift the flavour

Method

Preheat oven to 180 °C (fan 160 °C). Toss bread cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a tray and bake for 10–12 minutes until golden and crisp. Wash and dry lettuce, then tear into bite-sized pieces.

To make the dressing: Whisk egg yolk, mustard, garlic, anchovies, and lemon juice until smooth. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking to emulsify. Stir in Parmesan and season to taste.  In a large bowl, toss lettuce with dressing until lightly coated. Add croutons and Parmesan shavings. Top with grilled chicken or veggie protein if using; I used streaky bacon.

Topping Ideas & Variations

Protein: Add grilled chicken, crispy bacon, halloumi, or roasted chickpeas

Greens: Mix in kale or spinach for extra texture

Crunch: Use toasted seeds or nuts instead of croutons

Zing: Add lemon zest or a splash of white wine vinegar to the dressing

Vegan: Use vegan mayo, omit anchovies, and swap Parmesan for nutritional yeast

Storage & Reheating

Fridge:

Store undressed salad and croutons separately

Dressing keeps for 2–3 days in a sealed jar

Croutons stay crisp for up to 5 days in an airtight container

Freezer:

Not recommended for lettuce or dressing

Croutons can be frozen for up to 1 month

Reheating:

Croutons: Reheat in oven at 160 °C for 5–7 mins to crisp up

Chicken or bacon: Reheat gently in a pan or microwave before adding

From frozen:

Defrost croutons at room temp or reheat directly from frozen