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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Absolutely delicious and incredibly easy to prepare. This will be my go-to recipe from now on.
Omg!!! Was amazing!!! And a real hit at our family dinner… I had to change it up a bit to accommodate for allergies… but still tasted amazing!!! No more store brought dressing from me!!!
Dish ended up being, garlic, dairy, egg, wheat, gluten, soy free…
So easy and so delicious. It’s my go to for dinner parties, everyone raves how great my salad tastes and wants the recipe. You can do a lot of other things with it also. I smear it on boneless chicken breasts or fish filets, sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake it in the oven. Quick weeknight dinner.
If you have trouble finding anchovy paste at your local grocery store, try an Italian specialty store.
Excellent! I used 2 cloves roasted garlic since I had it on hand, Sir Kensington’s mayo and added the zest of the whole lemon I squeezed! Super!
Restaurant quality!!!
This recipe has become a staple in my rotation since I first made it about a year ago.
The anchovy paste is a great way to fool the kids (and my wife the first couple of times) that there’s no fish in there… Just gotta be a little stealthy with it…;)
It’s my daughter’s favorite meal now… She actually asked me to make it for her birthday dinner…
LOVE this! Delicious! I have made a similar recipe with sour cream but this time I went with all mayonnaise.
I forgot to buy store bought Ceaser dressing! I was craving a salad, I did get Romaine
Lettuce, and So I found your recipe❤️
Love It! best ever!
I didn’t have any anchovies though,
so didnt need them😊
Absolutely delicious and super easy to follow!!!! Satisfied all of my cravings! 💕
Just like our favourite Caesar salad served at the restaurant. I am a beginner cook and your recipes are well documented and easy to follow. Not to mention tasty.
Thank you for sharing and so glad I found your site amongst the too many choices that are out there.
So glad you’re having success with the recipes, Sue!
Caesar Salad is my favorite and this recipe is an instant favorite. My wife discovered it but I discovered that it is also a great dip for chips and I want to try it with artichokes. I love it so much I started making it.