The Only Caesar Salad Recipe You'll Ever Need
The Only Caesar Salad Recipe You'll Ever Need is a medium Italian-American recipe that serves 4. 340 calories per serving. Recipe by America's Test Kitchen on YouTube.
Prep: 37 min | Cook: 18 min | Total: 1 hr 5 min
Cost: $9.31 total, $2.33 per serving
Ingredients
- 4 oz Ciabatta Bread (cut into ½‑inch cubes)
- 0.25 cup Olive Oil (extra‑virgin, for tossing croutons)
- 1 clove Garlic (minced for croutons)
- 0.25 tsp Salt (for croutons)
- 0.25 tsp Black Pepper (freshly ground for croutons)
- 0.5 cup Parmesan Cheese (coarsely grated for salad (large‑hole grater))
- 0.25 cup Parmesan Cheese (finely grated for dressing (fine grater))
- 4 Anchovy Fillets (canned, minced into a paste)
- 1 Egg Yolk (large, room temperature; use pasteurized if desired)
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 0.5 cup Olive Oil (extra‑virgin, drizzled slowly into dressing)
- 12 oz Romaine Hearts (about two hearts, washed, dried, cut into 1‑inch pieces)
Instructions
Cube the Bread
Trim the ciabatta and cut it into roughly ½‑inch cubes.
Time: PT5M
Make Garlic‑Infused Oil
Combine ¼ cup olive oil, the minced garlic clove, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper in a small bowl and whisk until blended.
Time: PT2M
Toss Bread with Oil
Add the bread cubes to the oil mixture and toss until each piece is lightly coated.
Time: PT1M
Bake Croutons
Spread the coated cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a pre‑heated 350°F oven until golden brown and crunchy, stirring once halfway through.
Time: PT18M
Temperature: 350°F
Grate Parmesan Cheese
Using the large‑hole side of the box grater, grate ½ cup Parmesan into a bowl for the salad; then grate an additional ¼ cup fine Parmesan for the dressing.
Time: PT5M
Mince Anchovies and Garlic
Finely mince the anchovy fillets into a paste, then add the remaining garlic clove and mince together until smooth.
Time: PT3M
Prepare the Dressing Base
In the same mixing bowl, whisk together the raw egg yolk, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, the minced anchovy‑garlic paste, ¼ tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp table salt until smooth.
Time: PT5M
Emulsify the Dressing
Very slowly drizzle ½ cup olive oil into the yolk mixture while whisking continuously until the dressing thickens and becomes glossy.
Time: PT5M
Finish the Dressing
Stir in the fine‑grated Parmesan cheese until fully incorporated.
Time: PT1M
Prepare the Lettuce
Wash the romaine hearts, pat dry, then cut each heart lengthwise and slice into 1‑inch pieces.
Time: PT5M
Assemble the Salad
In a large serving bowl, combine the romaine pieces, the coarse‑grated Parmesan, and the warm croutons. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently with tongs until everything is evenly coated.
Time: PT5M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 340
- Protein
- 12g
- Carbohydrates
- 12g
- Fat
- 28g
- Fiber
- 3g
Dietary info: Vegetarian, Contains raw egg, Contains fish, Contains dairy, Contains gluten
Allergens: Egg, Fish (anchovies), Dairy (parmesan), Gluten (ciabatta)
Last updated: July 22, 2026








