How to Make Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
This creamy caesar salad dressing is an absolute favorite in our house and can be used for just about anything. Our favorite is on a traditional caesar salad, but it can also be used as a dip or veggies, in wraps, …
Homemade salad dressing is something we have switched over to in the last ten years. There are many reasons, but the number one is taste. Once you realize how much better homemade dressings are, you will not want to go back.
The other is for that amazing taste difference you get, it really does not take that much time to achieve. Homemade dressings are usually quite simple and so they cost less than store bought.
When we were first married, I could always find a sale on salad dressing, but now that I look at ingredients and want better for what we eat, those dressings are expensive!
This creamy caesar salad dressing is a homemade dressing that you will want in your recipe book. You will come back to it again and again and chicken caesar salad will probably become a part of your meal rotations like it has around here. Especially if you start growing your own lettuce and raising pastured chicken like we do.
This Creamy Caesar vs Ranch Dressing
We all love ranch dressing in our house and it used to be our favorite to make on a weekly basis for all salads, dips, and wraps.
Then came along this creamy caesar dressing recipe, and now it is our absolute favorite. The amazing fresh smell, the creamy texture and taste goes with everything. And it is safe for my family members sensitive to dairy who couldn’t eat the ranch dressing.
So if your family loves ranch and has never branched out to caesar, give this one a try. You will not be disappointed.
Easy To Make in a Jar
I like to use a large mouth quart mason jar to make this along with my immersion blender. It is the same way we make our homemade mayo (which also goes into this recipe).
What I usually do is make a double batch of mayo and then use half of it for this caesar dressing. It’s nice to get it all done at once.
Key Ingredients for Caesar Salad Dressing
Mayo
I have used both homemade and store-bought mayo for this dressing, but I usually make homemade since so many of the ingredients cross. Here is my recipe for homemade. I always use fresh eggs and avocado oil to make my mayo.
Garlic
Fresh garlic here please. I would not use the type the comes chopped in a little jar in this.
anchovy Paste
This recipe is about the only thing I use anchovy paste for, but it lasts a long time in the fridge so it is worth it.
lemon juice
You can use fresh or bottled.
mustard
We have used several types of mustard for this recipe. You can use regular yellow mustard, Dijon, or stone ground. Try different types and see which you like best. I grab Dijon first if I have a choice.
Parmesan cheese
There are many types you can use here. We usually have a wedge that we shred for this recipe. Sometimes we use a fresh small grated type we get. And when I didn’t realize we didn’t have anything else, I used the Trader Joes green shaker can of parm. Not my favorite choice, but that’s all we had. This is definitely best with fresh grated.
How to Make Creamy Caesar Dressing
Grab your wide mouth mason jar. If you have one with measurements on the side, that is a bonus and will make this easier.
Step 1:
Add the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon, balsamic, Worcestershire, and mustard to the wide mouth mason jar. Blend with your immersion blender until well combined.
step 2:
Then add in the mayo and blend again until just incorporated.
step 3:
Lastly, add in the parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper and blend again.
step 4:
That’s it! You can use it right away or put it in the fridge and use within the week. It should thicken up a bit being in the fridge, but thins out again in room temp.
Caesar Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayo (homemade is best, but store bought is good too)
- 2-4 cloves roughly chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard (any type)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
1. First get out your wide mouth mason jar.
2. Add the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon, balsamic, Worcestershire, and mustard to the wide mouth mason jar. Blend with your immersion blender until well combined.
3. Then add in the mayo and blend again until just incorporated.
4. Lastly, add in the parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper and blend again.
5. That's it! You can use it right away or put it in the fridge and use within the week. It should thicken up a bit being in the fridge, but thins out again in room temp.
Notes
Our favorite way to eat this is on a chicken Caesar salad (Romaine lettuce, homemade crutons, flaked parm, and grilled chicken).
It is also great as a dip, on a pasta sald, or any other green salad.
If you used to be a ranch fan, be prepared to switch to this being your favorite dressing!
How we Eat This Caesar Salad Dressing
On a Salad
Of course! We like to use romaine lettuce, homemade croutons, flaked parmesan cheese, and grilled chicken. We all gobble this creamy caesar salad dressing down on a salad!
As a dip
Any veggie or chip that you would dip can go with this dressing. It is so good and flavorful that way.
On a Pasta salad
If you want to make a quick pasta salad, this dressing works great. All you have to do is cook up the noodles, add any veggies or other ingredients you desire, and then dress with this caesar dressing.
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