A crisp salad isn’t something many of us crave in the winter months, but when summer sets in, it’s a refreshing alternative to heavy stews, soups and casseroles. Quick to make and packed with flavour, traditional Caesar salad comprises romaine lettuce, croutons, and a creamy dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and anchovies (or anchovy paste).
Anyone looking for a quick and tasty version of this dish, which originated in Tijuana, Mexico, can try Mary Berry’s “classic” recipe, which takes a mere 30 minutes to make from start to finish. And if you don’t have croutons at home, Mary notes that they’re very easy to make from scratch. “Making your own croutons is a great way of using up stale bread”, she said.
The recipe debuted in Mary Berry’s six-part BBC series “Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites.” It calls for just five ingredients to make the base of the salad.
For the dressing, ditch shop-bought bottles for your own homemade version that’s low in emulsifiers, hidden sugar, and preservatives.
Mary combines store cupboard staples: mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and a few drops of Worcestershire sauce to make the signature creamy Caesar dressing.
She notes that if you want to prepare some of the salad ahead of time, you can make the dressing two to three days ahead and keep it in a sealed container in the fridge. The croutons can also be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for two days.
Start by making the croutons. Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the cubed bread and fry over a high heat for three to four minutes, or until golden-brown.
Transfer the croutons to a bowl using a slotted spoon to discard the oil. Season the croutons generously with plenty of salt and pepper.
For the dressing, measure all of the ingredients in a bowl or jug and beat together with a whisk until smooth. Add one to two tablespoons of water to loosen, but avoid adding too much or risk a watery dressing.
Now toss the washed romaine lettuce in the dressing and scatter with the toasted croutons and grated Parmesan to finish.