[This recipe was my April column for The Hinton Voice, my local newspaper.]
Back when I still
lived at home with my parents, whenever my family was invited to a potluck
dinner, everyone always asked me to bring my famous Caesar salad. They raved about the Caesar dressing, saying
it was the best they had ever tasted by far.
Like any young girl trying to impress her family, I didn’t divulge the
secret, nor did I have the heart to tell everyone, that the dressing they loved
so much was actually available in the refrigerator section of the local grocery
store. They were right to love it - this
dressing was the perfect combination of creamy, garlicy bliss. As I started to branch out and learn how to
make my own sauces and dressings from scratch, I knew that I would need to try
and replicate this store bought version that everyone adored so much. I’m happy to report, that this dressing not
only matches its store-bought counterpart, it is even better (because isn’t
everything that’s homemade 100 times better?).
While the most
authentic version of Caesar dressings are created using olive oil based vinaigrettes
made with raw eggs, this version uses real mayonnaise instead. While I enjoy a
good Caesar salad made with a more traditional style dressing, my preference
has always been a creamier version, loaded with lots of garlic, freshly ground
pepper, and sharp Parmesan cheese.
The key ingredient
behind the great taste of Caesar salad comes from the not-so-secret ingredient
– anchovies! While I don’t know that I’d
be eating them as a topping on my pizza anytime soon, the depth that they add
to sauces and dressings simply cannot be denied. Even though you only use a little bit in this
recipe, the anchovies add a whole other dimension of flavour. Trust me, you’re not going to want to skip
this crucial ingredient.
*** You can find anchovies locally in the refrigerator section of your
favourite grocery store near the cheese and yogurt***
*** a package
of 3 romaine hearts should feed 6 people ***
Recipe makes 2 cups
(1 x 500 ml mason
jar)
Dressing
Ingredients
- 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 ½ tsp anchovy paste
- The juice from 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ cups real mayonnaise
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
Directions
In a medium bowl
whisk together garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, mustard, and Worcestershire
sauce.
Fold in mayonnaise,
cheese, and pepper. Whip until well
combined.
Store leftovers in a
mason jar in the fridge.
Croutons
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- sea salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
Directions
Tear the bread into
bite sized pieces and brush with melted butter and olive oil. Toss with salt
and pepper, and spread out on a baking sheeting being careful not to overlap.
Bake in preheated 375
degree oven for 10-15 minutes, tossing occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Nutritional Info (1 tbsp dressing)
-
Calories – 83 Fat - 8 Carbs - 0
Protein - 1 Fibre - 1
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment