Caesar dressing is one of those guilty pleasures in life, but many are clueless on how to prepare it?  Yes it contains anchovies, yes it contains raw egg yolk, and yes it is absolutely sensational!  Now that we have that cleared up let’s get cooking.   This Classic Caesar Dressing from scratch is easy to make, so much better than store-bought, and will keep in your fridge for later use for up to 7 days.  Serve on top of a head of fresh grilled Romaine lettuce and homemade croutons and you are ready to go! Bon Appetit!

Classic Caesar Salad Dressing

• 1 ½ TBSP garlic
• 2 TBSP Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 ½ TBSP lemon juice
• ½ tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 6 anchovies
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 cups oil
• 1 ½ TBSP water
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ½ Parmesan cheese

Add first eight ingredients together in a food processor. Then add egg yolks one at a time. Slowly add oil to processor, then water & extra virgin oil. Add cheese and pulse a couple of times. Voila! Homemade Caesar Dressing!

Grilled Romaine 

Cut the head of romaine lettuce in half lengthwise keeping the core in tact so it holds the lettuce together. Preheat the grill to a medium-high heat (about 450 degrees or so)  Dip the lettuce in oil and lay flat on the grill, cut side down first,  let the grill wilt the lettuce and add some nice grill marks for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and place on plate topped with fresh Caesar Salad dressing and homemade croutons.

Homemade Croutons 

For homemade croutons take a day old french baguette or village loaf and cut into 1 inch cubes (this doesn’t need to be exact, it’s just croutons)  lay out on a baking sheet and drizzle generously with olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, and dried italian herbs. (rosemary, thyme, oregano)  and sprinkle with garlic powder or sprinkle with about 1 TBSP of fresh minced garlic.   Place in a preheated oven at 375 degrees and toast for about 10 minutes or until the croutons are crisp and golden brown.

Check out this Video of Chef Allison and Lee Cruse with WLEX18 making this Classic Caesar Dressing.