This simple Caesar Salad is made with crisp cos lettuce, a creamy dressing, crunchy croutons, and shavings of parmesan. This recipe creates a perfectly balanced salad with rich, savory flavors from the anchovies and garlic. It’s a fantastic side dish for a dinner party or a light lunch for two people, and it takes very little time to prepare.
Hairy Bikers Caesar Salad Ingredients
For the croutons:
- 2 thick slices of day-old white bread, crusts removed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
For the dressing:
- 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2-3 anchovy fillets, drained and finely chopped
- 1 small garlic clove, crushed to a paste
- 100ml (3½ fl oz) olive oil
- 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Black pepper, freshly ground
For the salad:
- 1 large cos lettuce, leaves separated and washed
- Extra Parmesan cheese, for shaving
How To Make Hairy Bikers Caesar Salad
- Prepare the croutons: Cut the bread into 1cm (½in) cubes. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and fry for about 30 seconds, then add the bread cubes. Toss the bread in the oil, and fry for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until the croutons are golden and crisp. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolk and Dijon mustard together. Slowly drizzle in the lemon juice while continuing to whisk. The mixture should become creamy.
- Build the dressing flavor: Add the chopped anchovy fillets and the crushed garlic paste to the egg yolk mixture. Whisk them in well.
- Emulsify the dressing: While whisking continuously, slowly and steadily pour in the olive oil in a thin stream. The dressing will start to thicken and become glossy as it emulsifies. Once all the oil is incorporated, stir in the finely grated Parmesan cheese and season with plenty of freshly ground black pepper.
- Assemble the salad: Tear the washed cos lettuce leaves into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large salad bowl. Pour the dressing over the lettuce and toss gently to coat every leaf evenly.
- Serve: Add the garlic croutons and toss once more. Serve immediately, topped with generous shavings of Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Tips
- Use fresh, quality ingredients: The simple nature of this salad means every ingredient stands out. Use fresh lettuce, a good quality olive oil, and real Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Emulsify slowly: The most common mistake when making Caesar dressing is adding the oil too quickly. This can cause the dressing to break and separate. Pour the oil in a very slow, steady stream while whisking constantly.
- Garlic paste is key: Crushing the garlic clove into a paste rather than just chopping it helps to distribute the flavor evenly throughout the dressing without leaving any harsh chunks.
- Serve immediately: Once the dressing is on the lettuce and the croutons are added, the salad can get soggy. For the best, crisp texture, assemble and serve it right away.
What To Serve Caesar Salad
This Hairy Bikers Caesar salad is a classic side dish for a variety of main courses. It pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken, steak, or salmon. For a more substantial meal, top it with shredded cooked chicken to make it a main course. It’s also delicious served alongside garlic bread or a simple tomato soup.
How To Store Caesar Salad Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Caesar salad is best eaten fresh. If you do have leftovers, store the undressed components (lettuce, croutons, and dressing) separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The croutons can be stored at room temperature. The dressing will keep for up to 2 days.
- Freeze: Caesar dressing and the salad itself do not freeze well due to the ingredients like egg yolk and lettuce.
Hairy Bikers Caesar Salad Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Total Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sodium: 650mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 15g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 2g
- Protein: 10g
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this recipe safe to eat because of the raw egg? This recipe uses a raw egg yolk. The risk of salmonella is very low in countries with strict egg production standards, but it’s important to use the freshest, highest-quality eggs you can find. For a no-risk option, you can use a pasteurized egg product instead.
- Can I make the dressing in advance? Yes, you can make the Caesar dressing up to 2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The olive oil may solidify when cold, so bring it back to room temperature and give it a good whisk before serving.
- What is the difference between cos lettuce and romaine lettuce? Cos lettuce and romaine lettuce are the same thing. “Cos” is the term commonly used in the UK and Australia, while “romaine” is the term used in the US.
Try More Recipes:
- Hairy Bikers Spanish Meatballs Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Thai Fish Cakes Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Cauliflower Cheese Recipe
Hairy Bikers Caesar Salad Recipe
Description
The Hairy Bikers’ Caesar Salad recipe features a classic, rich dressing made with anchovies and garlic, served over crisp cos lettuce with homemade garlic croutons and Parmesan shavings.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut bread into cubes, fry with garlic in oil until golden.
- Whisk egg yolk, mustard, and lemon juice.
- Whisk in anchovies and garlic paste. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking to emulsify.
- Add grated Parmesan and pepper.
- Tear lettuce into a bowl, toss with dressing, add croutons, and top with Parmesan shavings.
