I love salad. There, I said it. Ok, maybe I don’t *love* salad, but I love the stuff that goes on the salad that make the salad a lot more yummy. Now that probably makes more sense. Dressing can make or break a salad. I began to understand the magic of a perfectly dressed salad from a good friend of mine. Whenever we’d come to her home for dinner, invariably, there’d be in the center of the table a gorgeous, delectable-looking salad. She was known for her delicious salads. I asked her for her secret.
She makes her own dressings.
The Adventure Begins
I began to experiment making my own dressings. This was about 10+ years ago. They’d be too runny or wouldn’t have enough flavor or not the right consistency. I endeavored to keep trying, however. I’m very comfortable now making my own dressings. I always have a few on hand depending on what we feel like. One of my favorites is Caesar dressing. In fact, I admit to having a bit of a caesar salad addiction at one point in my life. It was a problem.
After moving to Europe, I found finding caesar dressing hard to come by and I wanted to learn to make it myself. I’ve come up with a recipe that I think is delicious and I hope you will, too. I find it’s closest to the ones I’ve had in restaurants. It’s a favorite in our home, and I find myself having to make a new batch sooner than I anticipate!
Real Food, But...
Serious, real foodists out there may question this recipe because it doesn’t call for raw eggs (or anchovies, for that matter!) This is a quick, easy, and convenient version. I may post a classic version at some point, but for now, this works for me and my family. If you are a busy person who appreciates convenience, but wants to add more fresh, unprocessed food into your life then this is the recipe for you.
Healthy Caesar Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup of mayonnaise (if you are in North America, please look for a mayo with no added sugar)
2 tbs of mustard (with or without seeds depending on your preference)
1/2 cup of water
1 tbs of apple cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tbs olive oil
2-3 tbs fresh grated parmesan
3-4 freshly minced garlic cloves
juice of 1/2 lemon
This is a go-to salad dressing in our home when we want something yummy and convenient. We make a big batch and we’re good to go!
Wishing you all health and happiness!
Susan