Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
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My family loves this rich and creamy Caesar salad dressing. It’s not overly garlicky or fishy — it’s just right.
Though most people buy Caesar salad dressing in a bottle, homemade is incredibly easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought. There are many variations, but this rich and creamy version is the one my whole family loves. It’s not too garlicky and not too fishy – it’s just right. Unlike authentic Caesar dressings which are made with olive oil and thickened with raw eggs, this one has a mayonnaise base, which means you don’t have to worry if you’re squeamish about raw eggs. My kids love this dressing so much that they’ve learned to make it themselves. They don’t even wait for me to make a salad; while I cook dinner, they sit at the kitchen table with a big heart of romaine and dip the leaves in.
This recipe is part of my classic salad dressing collection, which includes go-to recipes for oil and vinegar based dressings, like vinaigrette and balsamic vinaigrette, as well as creamy dressings, such as buttermilk ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing, which are typically made with mayonnaise and dairy products.
What You’ll Need To Make Caesar Salad Dressing
Instead of whole anchovies, I use anchovy paste — makes it easy, especially if you’re squeamish about anchovies (just hold your nose and add it in; the dressing needs every last bit to taste like the real deal!)
For the cheese, it’s important to use imported Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy; domestic Parmesan pales in comparison. You can always tell if it’s authentic by looking at the rind, which is embossed with the name over and over. If the cheese is already grated, it should be labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano,” not “Parmesan.”
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by whisking together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
Next, whisk in the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and pepper.
The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about a week. For a main course Caesar, try pairing this with my best grilled chicken. Enjoy!
Caesar Salad Dressing Video Tutorial
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Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
My family loves this rich and creamy Caesar salad dressing. It’s not overly garlicky or fishy — it’s just right.
Ingredients
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (see note)
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I like the brand Maille)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's Real
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Add the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust to your liking. The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about a week.
- Note: Anchovy paste can be found near the canned tuna in the supermarket.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Serving size: About 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 184
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Sugar: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Sodium: 296mg
- Cholesterol: 13mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Amazing! I don’t eat processed sugar so I replaced the worcestershire sauce with Primal Kitchen Steak Sauce and I use any high quality sugar free mayonnaise and it’s delicious! I also add cashews and /or pine nuts and avocado to the salad. A real find! Thank you Once Upon A Chef!
I am not a fan of bottled dressings. I found this recipe about a year ago. I always have it in my fridge. It is super savory and can be used as a veggie dip too.
I like the ease of using mayo instead of oil and egg yokes. Much easier and safer. It literally take 5 minutes to make. It stores well in fridge.
I have made a lot of homeade dressings and this ranks at the top.
This is my family’s favorite homemade salad dressing. It’s good as written, but I make it with a little more pepper and a little more cheese (a happy accident) and it’s absolutely delicious.
Classic. Easy. Eggless. This is the only salad my two year old will eat and she takes more directly off my plate! Enough said. 🙂
I made this once and never went back to store bought. It’s just so easy and delicious. Everyone who has it, loves it!
This is the most perfect Caesar dressing. It is also simple to make. My problem in this world today is finding Romaine lettuce that won’t make you sick. I would love to trust the California lettuce but I can’t. I guess I need to buy local in the summertime. I use hothouse lettuces now when I get the craving.
This Caesar Dressing is so good! Very easy to make and the best Caesar Dressing I have ever had! Love that there is no egg! Creamy, yummy goodness!
My family’s new favorite salad dressing! What a brilliant way to substitute raw egg (and oil) by using Mayo. Instead of anchovy paste, i minced a tin of anchovies and was able to easily double the recipe. Thank you!
Hands down the BEST Cesar salad dressing! With two young boys, I need something quick and tasty to dress up a salad! My husband also loves it, too, and he is a big Cesar salad guy!
*Caesar…auto correct 🤪
Just made this last night for the 3rd time….insanely delicious! We also love dipping bagel chips & veggies in it. I used anchovie paste in a tube and it makes a difference but not fishy at all. YUM!