Some dishes are greater than the sum of their parts, and a perfectly made Caesar salad is one of them. The crunchy salad features a seemingly simple combo of romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan and a creamy dressing. But that classic Caesar dressing, rich in texture and packed with flavor, elevates the dish to beyond-salad status. Our version eschews raw egg for mayonnaise, making this an easy recipe using pantry staples.
Despite its European ingredients and technique, Caesar salad dressing has nothing to do with the tragic Roman emperor. Its name comes from Italian-born chef Caesar Cardini, who immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. But whether Cardini actually invented his namesake dressing is unclear; his brother, Alessandro, as well as an employee named Livio Santini also claimed credit for the original Caesar salad dressing recipe.
Caesar Cardini eventually opened a restaurant in Mexico to evade Prohibition, and that’s where the Caesar salad became famous. The recipe jumped to Southern California thanks to travelers from San Diego and Los Angeles bringing it back with them—even Julia Child remembers trying the salad in Tijuana for the first time. Its popularity spread across the country, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today you can find Caesar salad and its tangy dressing everywhere, from fast-casual restaurants to high-end steakhouses. And while plenty of bottled versions of Caesar dressing are available, it’s just as easy to make your own at home. Whip up this dressing for a fancy gathering’s side salad or for a weeknight dinner salad topped with a protein like steak, salmon or chicken.
What’s in Caesar dressing?
Homemade Caesar dressing is typically made by whisking oil into raw egg yolks and flavoring the emulsion with fresh garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and mashed anchovy. Our clever variation uses store-bought mayo and boosts the savory umami flavor with a hit of Worcestershire sauce.
Caesar Dressing Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: Caesar dressing typically involves making homemade mayo from scratch, but our recipe cleverly avoids that step by using store-bought mayonnaise. Because it’s integral to the taste of the dressing, use the best mayonnaise for flavor and texture.
- Parmesan cheese: Use the finest Parmesan you can find and afford for this recipe. The refrigerated chunks in a store’s deli section are usually decent, and sometimes you’ll even find a hunk of real Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is the best Parm you can get! Skip the powdery canned stuff, if possible.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential in a recipe with few other ingredients. Check out our fun trick for juicing lemons without cutting them!
- Dijon mustard: A dollop of this French mustard brings heat and a vinegary tang to the table. If you can’t find it in the store, here’s a Dijon mustard recipe you can make at home.
- Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds depth and umami notes to the Caesar salad dressing recipe. Can you name the ingredients that give the sauce its unique flavor? Among them are tamarind, anchovies and molasses.
- Anchovy paste: The savory flavor of these little fish is crucial to the best Caesar dressing recipe. Using mashed or chopped anchovy fillets instead of anchovy paste is fine.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a bit of fire to Caesar dressing. Make sure to mince the garlic for this recipe.
- Salt and pepper: A hint of the famed seasoning duo finishes our homemade Caesar dressing. Make sure you taste your dressing, and add extra salt and pepper as desired.
Directions
Step 1: Make the dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, garlic, salt and pepper.
Editor’s Tip: Because of the mayonnaise, you need to combine everything only until it’s smooth and all ingredients are well incorporated. If you were making a more classic version with egg yolks and olive oil, you’d need to whisk it until the oil and yolks emulsify and thicken.
Recipe Variations
- Make it fish-free: If you leave out the anchovy paste, you’ll want to replace the savory and salty flavor you’re losing. Miso paste would be a good anchovy substitute, as would a dash of liquid aminos, soy sauce or a healthy sprinkle of nori seaweed flakes.
- Do it without dairy: The only dairy ingredient in Caesar dressing is Parmesan, so if you’re cooking for dairy-free folks, simply leave out the Parm.
- Add some heat: Make your Caesar spicy by adding a dash or two of your favorite hot sauce or chili flakes.
How to Store Caesar Dressing
Store homemade Caesar dressing in the fridge in an airtight container—we like to use a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use the Caesar dressing within four days.
Caesar Dressing Tips
How do you make a Caesar salad?
Once you know how to make the best Caesar dressing recipe, the salad part is easy! Caesar salad is nothing more than chopped romaine lettuce tossed with your dressing, a handful of high-quality croutons and some shaved Parmesan cheese. Serving the salad with a wedge of lemon is a great move!
Can you turn a Caesar salad into an entree?
With its bold flavor and crisp lettuce, Caesar salad partners beautifully with numerous proteins. Classic additions include grilled or seared steak, seared salmon and roasted chicken. However, pork chop strips, tuna steak or marinated tofu also make excellent healthy salad suppers.
How else can you use Caesar dressing?
Try adding Caesar dressing instead of plain mayo to potato salad, drizzling it over a bowl of sun-ripened tomatoes or mixing it with canned fish to make an extra delicious tuna sandwich. Other Caesar salad recipes include wraps, pizzas, appetizers and more!
