Lately, I can’t get enough of romaine lettuce, which is weird considering a few months ago it was my least favorite green (next to iceberg). However, with the creation of our Vegan Caesar Salad with BBQ Sweet Potato Croutons, my love affair began, and …
Lately, I can’t get enough of romaine lettuce, which is weird considering a few months ago it was my least favorite green (next to iceberg). However, with the creation of our Vegan Caesar Salad with BBQ Sweet Potato Croutons, my love affair began, and it’s been going strong for months.
This is an iteration of that recipe, but with more decidedly Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean influences thanks to the addition of za’atar spice blend, hummus, and tahini (follow links for recipes and to learn about the origins of these ingredients).
Say hello to our new favorite salad.
It’s crunchy, fresh, incredibly easy to make, and boasts BIG zesty flavor from our 5-minute Caesar dressing. The recipe was born out of a simple need to put dinner on the table with minimal effort. We had a bunch o…
Say hello to our new favorite salad.
It’s crunchy, fresh, incredibly easy to make, and boasts BIG zesty flavor from our 5-minute Caesar dressing. The recipe was born out of a simple need to put dinner on the table with minimal effort. We had a bunch of random ingredients that got thrown together, and it just totally worked. Hello, next-level vegan caesar salad!
Ever miss the classic taste of the PB&J sandwich of your childhood? I do — often. But I don’t always want a sandwich with all the bread. So, I remedied this problem with a smoothie.
It hit me one day that if you make the strawberries int…
Ever miss the classic taste of the PB&J sandwich of your childhood? I do — often. But I don’t always want a sandwich with all the bread. So, I remedied this problem with a smoothie.
It hit me one day that if you make the strawberries into a compote first, it will intensify the “jam-like” flavors and send this 7-ingredient PB&J smoothie over the top. Hunch: correct. Let us show you how it’s done!
The very best Caesar salad recipe! This stunner has the perfect balance of creamy homemade dressing, crunchy croutons, and crisp lettuce. Some foods are classic for a reason. Like frosty vanilla bean ice cream or hot crispy French fries, this classic salad is basic but truly irresistible. Meet the perfect Caesar salad! Yes, you can buy a packaged storebought version with sub-par dressing and soggy croutons. But make all the components at home and it’s a knock out stunner. We’ve perfected all the elements so that you can make them at home. The savory, creamy dressing will instantly become a household favorite. And the crunchy garlicky croutons…well, you’ll be eating them off the baking sheet. How to make the best Caesar salad This homemade Caesar salad is absolutely magnificent. From the first bite, you’ll be singing its praises. (Promise.) Here are the ingredients to make an absolutely perfect version of this classic: Homemade croutons: Don’t even think about purchasing a box! Tear the bread into uneven pieces to make fluffy, crunchy orbs. Best Caesar dressing: Our recipe is so good, you won’t want to buy it again. Romaine hearts: We like the romaine hearts, the sweet and crunchy portion of […]
The very best Caesar salad recipe! This stunner has the perfect balance of creamy homemade dressing, crunchy croutons, and crisp lettuce.
Some foods are classic for a reason. Like frosty vanilla bean ice cream or hot crispy French fries, this classic salad is basic but truly irresistible. Meet the perfect Caesar salad! Yes, you can buy a packaged storebought version with sub-par dressing and soggy croutons. But make all the components at home and it’s a knock out stunner. We’ve perfected all the elements so that you can make them at home. The savory, creamy dressing will instantly become a household favorite. And the crunchy garlicky croutons…well, you’ll be eating them off the baking sheet.
How to make the best Caesar salad
This homemade Caesar salad is absolutely magnificent. From the first bite, you’ll be singing its praises. (Promise.) Here are the ingredients to make an absolutely perfect version of this classic:
Homemade croutons: Don’t even think about purchasing a box! Tear the bread into uneven pieces to make fluffy, crunchy orbs.
Best Caesar dressing: Our recipe is so good, you won’t want to buy it again.
Romaine hearts: We like the romaine hearts, the sweet and crunchy portion of a head of romaine. These are sold usually in packs of 3 in the grocery. You can also use a large head of romaine lettuce.
Parmesan cheese shavings: You need grated for the dressing, so grab yourself a block of the stuff.
Tips for Caesar salad croutons
You’ll start with the croutons for this Caesar salad. All they need is 15 minutes in a hot oven! You can prep the rest of the salad while they bake. Here are our tips for the best homemade croutons:
Use great bread: The better the bread, the better the crouton! Use artisan bread, French bread or sourdough bread from the store, or leftover homemade bread.
Tear the bread into pieces: Tearing the bread into small pieces makes for crispier croutons with crevices that catch the dressing!
Add garlic powder. Our croutons recipe is for garlic croutons, which have the perfect savory flavor.
Bake until crispy (about 15 minutes). You’ll use a low temperature, 300 degrees, and bake until just crispy. The croutons crisp up after baking .
The secrets to homemade Caesar dressing
This Caesar dressing recipe is our favorite that we’ve been making for years! It’s a healthy spin on the standard but it tastes just as good. It’s also easily made vegetarian. Here are a few notes on this Caesar dressing:
Greek yogurt gives it a healthy spin. Instead of going all mayo and oil, we’ve added a little Greek yogurt too. This keeps it creamy but cuts a few of the calories. We use this philosophy in our Ranch Dressing recipe too.
Use anchovy paste, or don’t: it’s optional! Traditional Caesar dressing gets its savory flavor from anchovies, so we’ve used it here. It adds a huge amount of flavor! But this dressing tastes just as good without it. Feel free to make a vegetarian Caesar dressing and it’s just as good.
There’s no raw egg. Standard Caesar dressing uses raw egg yolks (like a homemade mayo). But this recipe is so full of flavor, it doesn’t need it.
Make ahead instructions for Caesar salad
Once you’ve got your creamy dressing and crunchy croutons, all you need is romaine hearts and Parmesan cheese shavings to bring together that perfect Caesar salad. Want a few time savers for putting it together? Here’s how to make it ahead:
Make the dressing up to 1 week in advance. Make it and refrigerate up to 1 week: the flavor tastes just as good!
Make the croutons 2 days in advance. Make the croutons and let them cool completely. Then store in a sealed container for up to 2 days. The flavor gets gradually staler over time, so the closer to fresh they are, the better.
Variations: make it a main dish!
If you take all this time to make Caesar salad…why not turn it into a main dish meal? If you serve it topped with protein, it makes about 4 servings. Here are a few ideas:
Chicken Caesar Salad: Top with grilled or cooked chicken for the classic restaurant main dish.
For the croutons: Make the Homemade Croutons, but tear the bread into pieces instead of slicing it into cubes.
For the dressing: While the croutons bake, make the dressing. Grate the garlic, or finely mince it. Grate the Parmesan cheese as finely as possible (it’s helpful to use a microplane or the fine holes on a grater). Juice the lemon. Whisk together all the ingredients in a bowl. Store refrigerated (keeps at least 1 week).
For the salad: Tear the romaine leaves into pieces (or chop them). Top each salad with Parmesan cheese shavings, croutons, and dressing.
Notes
*Romaine hearts are easy to find packaged separately in the produce aisle.
Category:Salad
Method:Raw
Cuisine:American
Keywords: Caesar salad
More great salad recipes
We love salads! If you do too, here are a few more great salad recipes to try:
Broccoli Salad Crunchy and savory sweet, it stars broccoli, raisins, and a flavor-popping dressing.
Perfect Italian Salad Crisp veggies, crunchy croutons, tangy pepperoncini, and a punchy homemade dressing.
Antipasto Salad Hearty and full of zingy flavor, with lots of crunchy veggies, olives, artichokes, cheese, and Italian herbs.
Classic Corn Salad Fresh and full of tangy flavor, with bursts of bright tomato and basil!
Caprese Salad Pair perfectly ripe, juicy tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and peppery basil.
This classic Italian salad is your soul mate side dish! It features crisp veggies, crunchy croutons, tangy pepperoncini, and a punchy homemade dressing. Here’s a great salad that’s simply perfection, in our books. Meet this Italian salad! It’s full of all the right flavors and textures: crisp lettuce, crunchy garlic croutons, and zingy pepperoncini. It’s covered in punchy, herby Italian vinaigrette that makes the flavors sing! And shaved Parmesan seals the deal. It can play sidekick to just about anything. It’s no secret: this salad is staunchly Italian-American, not a classic Italian recipe. But that’s what we love about it! What you need for the best Italian salad Perhaps you’ve had a salad like this at an Italian American restaurant (the nostalgia factor is one thing Alex and I love about it). Somehow all the components come together into perfect harmony. Here’s what you need to make the best Italian salad…or really, the best salad: Crisp greens: Use contrasting greens for variety: we like crunchy romaine and bright green butter lettuce. Tomato & red onion: The veggies bring color and crunch. Olives & pepperoncini: This is what brings that classic “Italian salad” vibe: tangy, briny, and zingy flavors. Do not […]
This classic Italian salad is your soul mate side dish! It features crisp veggies, crunchy croutons, tangy pepperoncini, and a punchy homemade dressing.
Here’s a great salad that’s simply perfection, in our books. Meet this Italian salad! It’s full of all the right flavors and textures: crisp lettuce, crunchy garlic croutons, and zingy pepperoncini. It’s covered in punchy, herby Italian vinaigrette that makes the flavors sing! And shaved Parmesan seals the deal. It can play sidekick to just about anything. It’s no secret: this salad is staunchly Italian-American, not a classic Italian recipe. But that’s what we love about it!
What you need for the best Italian salad
Perhaps you’ve had a salad like this at an Italian American restaurant (the nostalgia factor is one thing Alex and I love about it). Somehow all the components come together into perfect harmony. Here’s what you need to make the best Italian salad…or really, the best salad:
Crisp greens: Use contrasting greens for variety: we like crunchy romaine and bright green butter lettuce.
Tomato & red onion: The veggies bring color and crunch.
Olives & pepperoncini: This is what brings that classic “Italian salad” vibe: tangy, briny, and zingy flavors. Do not omit!
Parmesan shavings (optional): Thick slices of Parmesan make a savory counterpoint; they’re easy to omit for a vegan salad.
Italian dressing: The dressing brings a punch that only homemade dressing can.
Garlic croutons: Crunchy, garlicky and totally worth the time to make!
Tricks for Italian salad dressing
A few tricks for the Italian salad dressing! This dressing is one of our favorites, and it comes together quickly. The only thing you need to know is how to get the perfect emulsion. Emulsion is when the olive oil and vinegar combine into a creamy liquid, versus separating into their separate parts. Here’s what to remember:
Use a medium sized bowl. Whisk in too small a bowl, and you won’t be able to get the whisking motion large enough to get an emulsion.
Pour the oil in 1 tablespoon at a time. Drizzle in the oil gradually and whisk vigorously before adding more. This makes it combine perfectly!
Why make homemade croutons?
Not everyone has time for homemade croutons. But they only take a few minutes of hands on time, and take this Italian salad to the next level! It’s a great way to use up bread that’s starting to get stale. All you’ll need is 15 minutes to bake (and the oven preheat time). The garlic flavor and the massive crunch is absolutely worth the time. Another reason to make homemade? They have no preservatives, and they don’t overdo it on the salt.
You can also make the croutons in advance. Just store them in a sealed container at room temperature until serving. They last for about 1 week, but are best when fresh. You can absolutely omit for a gluten-free salad and it still tastes great.
Ways to serve Italian salad
This Italian salad is perfect with Mediterranean or Italian-style foods like pizza and pasta. You can even make it into a main dish! Here’s what we recommend:
Make it a main dish salad. Add hard boiled eggs, white beans, tuna, or chopped chicken.
This classic Italian salad is your soul mate side dish! It features crisp veggies, crunchy croutons, tangy pepperoncini, and a punchy homemade dressing.
Ingredients
1/2 recipe Homemade Croutons (or use purchased or omit for gluten-free)
Place the greens in bowls, then top with the vegetables, olives, pepperoncini, Parmesan shavings, and croutons, then drizzle with dressing. Or, you can place them all together in a large serving bowl and toss with the dressing. (If making in advance, refrigerate the components separately and keep the croutons at room temperature. Bring the dressing to room temperature before serving.)
Category:Salad
Method:Raw
Cuisine:Italian American
Keywords: Italian salad
More perfect green salads
There are so many tasty green salads to try! Here are some favorites:
Favorite Chopped Salad This one has a similar vibe to this Italian salad! One of our top fan faves.
Easy Arugula Salad The easiest salad you’ll make! You don’t even need to make dressing.
Fennel Orange Salad Elegant and perfect for impressing everyone around the table.
You’re about to fall in love with this hot ginger salmon salad! Oh yes yes yes. It’s the flakiest, butteriest, most flavorful salmon on top of greens that are drizzled with hot ginger dressing. Hot.ginger.dressing. Say it again! I have loved hot bacon dressing for as long as I can remember. And it’s not JUST […]
You’re about to fall in love with this hot ginger salmon salad!
Oh yes yes yes. It’s the flakiest, butteriest, most flavorful salmon on top of greens that are drizzled with hot ginger dressing.
Hot.ginger.dressing. Say it again!
I have loved hot bacon dressing for as long as I can remember. And it’s not JUST because of the bacon. I mean, but it sort of is.
This has been said on the blog ten million times, but my grandma loved (and my mom loves!) hot bacon dressing more than just about anything. There were a few places where they would only order the spinach salad with hot bacon dressing. And it’s one of the first salads I ever fell in love with. One of the only salads I would actually eat as a kid.
Shocking.
Sometimes I just don’t want to cook bacon. (I know, tell that to me 2011 self, OMG.)
Other times, I don’t have bacon. Like now!
I realize that this isn’t the same thing. After all, the bacon fat in the dressing is where alllll the goodness comes in. And we don’t really have that here, exactly, but the warm ginger and garlic? Oh my gosh. It is so, so good on this salad!
The salad is really simple. Well, it is and it isn’t. You need to cook the salmon AND the dressing, but neither take a long time. The greens are coated in the warm dressing and I could probably eat the greens and dressing alone. The salmon and almonds gives it some bulk so it’s an actual meal. Oh and texture and crunch!
Of course.
As for the salmon – I absolutely LOVE the spice mix on this one. A little smoky and sweet. It goes with everything! And it’s just so flavorful, yet at the same time allows the salmon to shine. It creates a nice crust on the fish and allows you to keep the salad simple.
I mean, it’s SO simple. In fact, we’re doing romaine, kale, toasted almonds and roasted salmon. Then drizzled with the hot ginger dressing.
Easy as pie. (I wish I had pie.)
It’s simple enough that you can add in anything else you have in the fridge. I think some blanched green beans would be delish in here. Or even snap peas. Make it a clean out the fridge meal if you want.
The salmon is great cold too, meaning this is awesome for leftovers! You can easily reheat the dressing. However, it’s fine cold from the fridge too. And since it doesn’t have the bacon fat, it won’t be solid.
Now that looks like a SALAD.
This is a delish dinner, a great lunch idea, perfect for this warmer months and an overall light option if you’re just not super hungry. You could pair it with something else or serve it alone. And my favorite idea: bundle the entire salad up in a wrap! I love meals like that.
This ginger salmon salad has the flaky, flavorful roasted salmon on top of kale and romaine, drizzled with warm ginger vinaigrette.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15minutes
Cook Time 20minutes
Total Time 35minutes
Servings 2people
Author How Sweet Eats
Ingredients
1poundsalmon
1tablespoonfirmly packed light brown sugar
½teaspoonkosher salt
½teaspoonsmoked paprika
¼teaspoonground coriander
½teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoonpepper
4cupschopped kale
1teaspoonolive oil
4cupschopped romaine lettuce
⅓cuproasted,salted almonds, chopped
hot ginger dressing
1tablespoontoasted sesame oil
1small shallot,diced
2teaspoonschopped fresh ginger
1garlic clove,minced
1 ½tablespoonsred wine or apple cider vinegar
1tablespoonhoney
1teaspoonsoy sauce
¼ to ⅓cupolive oil
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the salmon on a baking sheet. Stir together the brown sugar, salt, paprika, coriander, garlic powder and pepper. Rub the spice mix all over the top of the salmon.
Roast the salmon for 12 to 15 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork and is opaque.
While the salmon is roasting, place the kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with the 1 teaspoon of olive oil and massage the kale. This helps break it down and it will be less bitter. Let it sit for 10 minutes while you make the hot ginger dressing.
To assemble the salad, toss the romaine lettuce in with the kale. Drizzle the greens with the dressing and toss. Add the salmon and almonds on top. Serve!
hot ginger dressing
Heat a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the sesame oil. Stir in the shallot with a pinch of salt and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the ginger and garlic and cook for 2 minutes more. Reduce the heat to low. Whisk in the vinegar, honey and soy sauce. Whisk in the olive oil until emulsified.
This dressing can be refrigerated and used warm or cold! To reheat, just heat in a skillet for 1 to 2 minutes until warm.
This fattoush salad recipe is made with a delicious blend of fresh greens, veggies and herbs, crispy toasted pita chips, and a bright and zippy lemon dressing. Anyone else interested in a big bowl of fresh greens and veggies right now? Let’s make some fattoush salad! ♡ This classic Middle Eastern salad is one of […]
This fattoush salad recipe is made with a delicious blend of fresh greens, veggies and herbs, crispy toasted pita chips, and a bright and zippy lemon dressing.
Anyone else interested in a big bowl of fresh greens and veggies right now?
Let’s make some fattoush salad! ♡
This classic Middle Eastern salad is one of my all-time faves and always tastes especially delicious this time of year, now that fresh greens, herbs and veggies are starting to come back in season.
While traditional Fattoush salad recipes vary from country to country in the Middle Easter, the signature ingredient here is always the same — leftover pita scraps (or fatteh, which means “crumbs” in Arabic), which are toasted or fried to give this salad its extra-delicious heartiness and crunch. Fattoush is also meant to be a clean-out-the-crisper-drawer sort of situation, typically featuring a base of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, plus any extra veggies that you may have on hand. It’s typically tossed with a simple lemon dressing and tons of fresh mint, whose flavors brighten up this salad beautifully. And finally, it is sprinkled with lots of ground sumac — the traditional red, citrusy, tangy spice that absolutely makes this salad for me.
To me, this fattoush salad recipe tastes like absolute springtime, which is exactly what I’ve been craving lately. So if you’re also ready for a refreshing dose of greens in your life, clean out that crisper drawer and let’s make some fattoush!
This chopped Mexican salad is the best easy side dish for tacos and enchiladas! It’s topped with savory cilantro lime dressing and crunchy tortilla strips. Ever wonder what to serve with tacos and enchiladas? Us too. Alex and I serve Mexican-styl…
This chopped Mexican salad is the best easy side dish for tacos and enchiladas! It’s topped with savory cilantro lime dressing and crunchy tortilla strips. Ever wonder what to serve with tacos and enchiladas? Us too. Alex and I serve Mexican-style meals quite a bit. And we’d never found a side salad that we loved: until this one! This Mexican salad is a chopped salad with Latin-style flavors: colorful veggies, cilantro lime salad dressing, and tortilla strips. It all combines into a super-flavorful dish that can be served as a side, or dressed up to work as a healthy main dish salad. It’s got 3 dressings to choose from, based on your tastes (easiest, easy and vegan). What’s in this Mexican salad? With this Mexican salad, we tried to keep it seriously simple as an easy side dish. At the same time, you can dress it up to customize it to your tastes and the occasion! You can even serve it as a main dish salad with adders (see below). Here’s what’s in the base of this chopped Mexican salad: Greens: The best is crunchy romaine! If you’d like, add some mixed baby greens for a contrast. Cherry tomatoes Sliced […]
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