Anyone who says homemade Caesar salad isn’t a million times better than the pre-packed variety is telling a porky (British term for telling a big fat lie haha!) or not very good in the kitchen. I love my Caesar salad when it’s rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. Also, there are so many different Caesar salad recipes around that it’s lots of fun to keep experimenting at home until you find the one that’s just right for you! This homemade version is definitely my favourite because I use mayo instead of sauce in the dressing to make it extra creamy.
This origin of Caesar salad has been disputed over the years but the general consensus is that it was invented by Italian-American chef Caesar Cardini in Mexico in 1924. Cardini simply threw a bunch of ingredients together to make a salad for his friends on the 4th of July weekend and the dish really took off from there!
How to Make Homemade Caesar Salad
How to Make the Caesar Salad Dressing
- Combine all of the ingredients into a container that you can use an immersion or hand blender in to mix the ingredients. Alternatively, you can place this all in your blender.
- Process and blend all of the ingredients together, adding in more garlic and lemon to taste if you want (I am Ukrainian so there is always room for more garlic!). Set aside.
Assembling the Caesar Salad
- Place the lettuce in a large bowl.
- Toss with the dressing until the lettuce is coated completely.
- Top with the bacon, my HOMEMADE CROUTONS and the Parmesan. I do NOT mix it in because as you know, they all go to the very bottom!
- Right before serving, mix the toppings into the top layer of lettuce, not the bottom, just slightly so that you have a layer of toppings for everyone to dig into.
How Long Can You Keep Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing?
How long your homemade Caesar salad dressing will last greatly depends on the ingredients. Vinaigrette can generally be kept in the refrigerator for around 2 weeks, but dairy-based dressings and those with fresh ingredients like fresh herbs and hard-boiled egg (chopped) will only keep for about a week.
If you keep them out at room temperature, your vinaigrette dressings can last up to a few hours but you’ll need to throw any dairy dressings out after 2 hours. You can freeze your homemade Caesar salad dressings, but to be honest they really don’t freeze well – especially dairy.
What Lettuce is in Caesar Salad?
Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce which is well known for its versatility in various cuisines, so you probably already have some sitting in your fridge!
How Can You Tell if Caesar Dressing is Bad?
It won’t be hard to tell if your Caesar salad dressing is bad with just one whiff! If the dressing gives off an odd odor, appearance, or flavour, then it’s time to ditch it. And if mold starts to appear… well, that one’s pretty obvious (eww!).
Can You Leave Salad Out Overnight?
As I mentioned earlier, salads can safely be left out at room temperature for about two hours or just one hour if they’re dairy-based. Any longer than this and nasty bacteria can start to multiply pretty quickly if your salad has been left out for an extended period.
How Many Calories are in Caesar Salad?
Salads are a tricky one when it comes to calories because sometimes they contain a lot more than you think! But you can definitely lower the calorie count in your Caesar salad depending on the ingredients you use. The recipe I love most (and have posted here!) has 358 calories, 5g carbs, and 9g of protein per serving. Not too bad, eh?
What to Make With Caesar Salad
There are lots of options for serving alongside a Caesar salad. It can serve as a main or side dish depending on the event! I personally think that a homemade Caesar salad with homemade croutons or/and some Parmesan flatbread is the perfect quick and easy meal that’s light on the stomach but filling enough to keep you going for a few hours too!
This is DEFINITELY our go-to recipe from now on, no more Costco Caesar salad (sorry Costco, but this is the greatest salad ever now) and not only that, my son ROCKS at making this, so child labor for the win!
Happy cooking!
Karlynn
Homemade Classic Caesar Salad
Ingredients
Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic peeled, divided
- 3/4 cup full fat mayonnaise
- 3 teaspoons anchovy paste
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or more to taste
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
Caesar Salad Ingredients
- 3-4 romaine hearts washed, and torn into bite-size pieces
- 1-2 cups homemade garlic croutons (see post above for the recipe)
- 8 well cooked bacon strips, sliced
- 1/3 cup Parmesan flakes
- fresh lemon juice to top if desired
Instructions
How to Make the Caesar Salad Dressing
- Combine all of the ingredients into a container that you can use an immersion or hand blender in to mix the ingredients. Alternatively, you can place this all in your blender.
- Process and blend all of the ingredients together, adding in more garlic and lemon to taste if you want. ( I am Ukrainian so there is always room for more garlic!) Set aside
Assembling the Caesar Salad
- Place the lettuce in a large bowl.
- Toss with the dressing until the lettuce is coated completely.
- Top with the bacon, croutons and the Parmesan. I do NOT mix it in because as you know, they all go to the very bottom!
- Right before serving, mix the toppings into the top layer of lettuce, not the bottom, just slightly so that you have a layer of toppings for everyone to dig into.
Notes
Nutrition
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Beth Sudduth says
How long does the Shrimp Caesar Salad last in the fridge? I just found your site, and am so excited about trying your many recipes. PS I also am Ukrainian! 🇺🇦
Belva says
The caesar salad dressing sounds yummy.I love it,so now I have a new receipe to try