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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Comments
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This is delicious! Perfect balance! Thanks!
Wonderful dressing! Several asked for the recipe. Will make again.
Is it possible make it without mayo because I have IBS ?
Hi Liz, Unfortunately, you really need the mayo for this. I’d look for a different recipe hat uses olive oil instead — sorry!
Made the dressing last night and was delicious,but I would like to thin it down a little. Would adding a little water work or do you have another suggestion?
Yep 🙂
Amazing flavor. Bottled dressings do not compare.
Delicious!! Making it tonight with a spatchcock chicken and risotto. Every time I make it for company like I will tonight, they want the recipe. It’s always a winner.
Pretty good but I felt the need to modify it pretty significantly. The OG version here is very Mayo forward so I added a heavy kick of each ingredient to the Mayo base and it worked like a charm. I know some are bashing the Mayo base but I think it’s a great way to intro non-professional cooks to sauces as they’re often intimidating. A little tweak and I’d give it a 5, but I’ll rest on the 4 until it’s updated.
This Caesar salad dressing is simply THE BEST! I have made it at least five times and everyone raves about it! I always use Hellmann’s Real Mayo, and add a tsp.n extra lemon juice. “Once upon a Chef” is one of my favorite sites for great recipes of all kinds!
This I made and the only thing I had a problem with was it was too thick, too much mayo I think. It tasted ok but I think I am going to continue to look for the right one for me.
After reading your note, I cut my mayo in half as suggested by another reply. Delicious! No need to keep looking 🙂
So just to make clear, keep all the other ingredients as is but reduce the amount of mayo?
Yes! I recommend starting with 1/2 the mayo, but with the recommended ingredients otherwise. Adjust as needed.
Fabulous recipe! Made it without the anchovy paste for vegetarians and there wasn’t a scrap of salad left in the bowl. The teenagers in our group practically licked the bowl. Thank you!
I absolutely love Caesar salad, and this is the very best homemade dressing I have ever had. Excellent recipe!
Easy and excellent! All three of my adult children love this recipe and they are picky about caesar dressing!