Caesar Salad

The first salad listed on every high-end menu, now featured on your dining table!

With the perfect blend of crunch and cream, Caesar salad used to be my go-to at any restaurant. It was either that or a chicken Caesar wrap—the handheld version of this green delicacy. This salad seems simple at first glance, but the flavor combo is actually quite diverse! There’s the salty Parmesan, the crunchy and peppery croutons, and the crisp and bright romaine. What more could a salad lover ask for? You even have the briny, smoky undertone of anchovies, which I didn’t like as a child but really appreciate as an adult. It doesn’t exactly make this dish seafood, but it does make it fantastically flavorful. Even if you choose to remove that fishy ingredient, this Caesar salad still shines like a star on a clear night.

With such a fulfilling flavor, satisfying texture, and nearly endless customization possibilities, this salad brings a delicious element to family weeknight dinners and special occasions alike. Plus, it plays well with a wide variety of sides and mains—and it can play both of those roles itself! Serve it alongside a roast, a chicken breast from the grill, or a simple plate of garlic knots, and you’re good to go!

Is This Caesar Salad Healthy?

This salad balances some good nutritional benefits with some drawbacks. Romaine lettuce is the overachiever of leafy greens—it’s crispy, low in calories, and a far more nutrient-dense choice than, say, iceberg. This tasty lettuce is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin K, and folate, providing fiber and antioxidants. Parmesan cheese and anchovy pasta add protein, calcium, and healthy fats, but also sodium. Meanwhile, the mayonnaise adds saturated fat. So long as the dressing is applied lightly and portions are kept reasonable, this Caesar salad is a moderately healthy choice as part of an otherwise well-balanced diet.

To level up the nutritional content, consider adding more vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, or baby spinach. If you don’t like the strong taste of anchovies, you can replace anchovy paste with a mix of tahini and coconut aminos. For a vegan version, swap the Parmesan cheese and mayonnaise for plant-based options and skip the Worcestershire sauce in favor of coconut aminos or a vegan version. You can find gluten-free croutons in most grocery stores—or make your own! Find my super-easy directions in the FAQs below.

Is This Salad Named After the Roman Emperor?

It’s funny how I thought about this question almost every time I ate this salad. Now, of course, thanks to the internet, I know the answer. Despite many of us thinking that this salad had something to do with Julius Caesar, in fact it was named after its creator, Caesar Cardini. He was an Italian restaurant owner in Tijuana, Mexico, who first made the salad tableside for customers in 1924. As it turns out, he was originally improvising with whatever ingredients he had on hand—which did not include the anchovies or grilled chicken that are popular on a Caesar salad today. Almost overnight, his concoction became a classic!

Serving Suggestions

Serve Caesar salad plain as a delightful side with Grilled Chicken and Steamed Sweet Potatoes for a wholesome dinner. Or make it your main by topping it with a savory protein, like Honey-Lime Chicken, Grilled London Broil, or an easy meatless option like Falafel With Canned Chickpeas.

Although this salad typically goes best with a classic Caesar dressing, you can try different dressings, each with its own special touch. Some personal favorites are Sweet Onion Dressing, Honey-Balsamic Dressing, Greek Salad Dressing, or the golden Carrot-Ginger Dressing. Of course, these dressings stray from the traditional Caesar flavor profile, but they’ll still deliver a tasty experience!

Recipe