Description
Classic caesar salad celebrates fresh romaine lettuce, crisp croutons, and zesty parmesan cheese with traditional Roman-inspired flavors. Home cooks can quickly craft this iconic dish that delivers rich, tangy satisfaction in mere minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 bunch curly kale, stemmed
- 1 avocado, diced (optional)
- 1 cup homemade croutons
- 1 tsp (5 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- roasted chickpeas (optional)
- sea salt
- shaved parmesan cheese or vegan parmesan
- homemade caesar dressing or vegan caesar dressing
Instructions
- Leaf Preparation: Strip kale leaves from stems, removing tough parts. Massage leaves with olive oil and sea salt to tenderize and enhance texture, creating a supple base for the salad.
- Lettuce Processing: Chop romaine into uniform, bite-sized pieces, ensuring a crisp and consistent foundation for the dish. Separate kale and romaine in a large salad bowl to maintain individual leaf integrity.
- Cheese and Protein Arrangement: Shave Parmesan into delicate curls, or use a vegan Parmesan alternative for plant-based diets. Roast chickpeas to add protein and prepare diced avocado for a creamy element.
- Dressing and Mixing: Drizzle Caesar dressing over the greens, thoroughly tossing to ensure complete and even coating. The dressing should create a luxurious, glossy layer that embraces each leaf.
- Garnishing and Final Assembly: Sprinkle homemade croutons and shaved Parmesan (or vegan equivalent) across the salad. Gently incorporate roasted chickpeas and avocado, performing a final delicate toss to distribute ingredients harmoniously.
- Serving: Present the salad immediately to maintain the crispness of croutons and the vibrant freshness of vegetables, creating a visually appealing and texturally dynamic dish.
Notes
- Massage Kale Technique: Gently rubbing olive oil and salt softens kale’s tough texture, making it more tender and easier to eat.
- Lettuce Cutting Pro Tip: Uniform bite-sized pieces ensure consistent texture and perfect fork-friendly experience in every bite.
- Cheese Substitution Strategy: Vegan Parmesan alternatives maintain authentic flavor profile for plant-based eaters without compromising taste.
- Immediate Serving Recommendation: Serve salad right away to preserve crouton crunchiness and vegetable freshness, preventing soggy disappointment.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg