Best Caesar Salad Cooks Illustrated Recipes

Classic Caesar Salad(Cook's Country) image

Provided by Coppercloud

Categories Greens

Time 20m

Yield 12 cups, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
French baguette, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
salt and pepper
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
2 anchovy fillets, rinsed and patted dry (optional)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 romaine lettuce hearts, torn into bite-sized pieces (about 12 cups)

Steps:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk oil and garlic in large bowl; reserve 1/4 cup. Toss bread with remaining oil mixture and season with salt and pepper. Bake bread on rimmed baking sheet until golden, about 20 minutes. Cool completely.
2. Process mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, anchovy (if using), lemon juice, vinegar, Worcestershire, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in blender until smooth. With machine running, pour in reserved oil and process until thoroughly incorporated.
3. Toss romaine, shredded Parmesan, and dressing in large bowl. Add croutons and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 384.4, Fat 31.6, SaturatedFat 7.2, Cholesterol 23.4, Sodium 539.5, Carbohydrate 17, Fiber 6.7, Sugar 5.5, Protein 12.2

The Best Caesar Salad image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Kosher salt
3 cups rustic bread (about 3 ounces), torn into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper
2 anchovies packed in oil
1 clove garlic
1 egg yolk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, at room temperature
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 romaine hearts, chopped (see Cook's Note)

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
For the croutons: Put the olive oil and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. When the butter is completely melted add the garlic and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Carefully swirl the pan to combine. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the garlic to infuse the oil mixture.
Put the bread pieces on a baking sheet. Evenly pour the garlic mixture over the bread and toss to coat. Spread the bread in a single layer and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir the bread halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with black pepper and Parmesan. Set aside to cool.
For the salad: Soak the anchovies in a small bowl of water for 5 minutes. Rinse with cold water, drain and pat dry. Finely chop the anchovies and garlic, then use the side of your knife to mash them to a paste.
Add the anchovy paste, egg yolk, Dijon mustard and lemon juice to a large bowl and whisk to combine. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil in a steady stream until emulsified. Stir in 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan. If needed, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time to thin the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the lettuce and croutons to a large bowl and gently toss with the dressing until coated. Top with grated Parmesan and serve immediately.