Make this easy caesar dressing while you bake some garlic parmesan croutons or bacon croutons for a homemade, restaurant-quality caesar salad. To save time, we use mayonnaise as the base. Then we add ingredients you likely have in your pantry like parmesan, lemon juice, anchovy paste, dijon mustard, garlic, and salt and pepper. Simply stir it all together and serve it right away or (ideally) let it sit so the flavors can blend. It’s the perfect creamy dressing for side salads or heartier meal-style salads with protein like chicken or chickpeas. Toss it together in a big bowl and definitely don’t skimp on the fresh cracked black pepper! Here’s how we make it in a few simple steps:
Mayonnaise – this makes the base of the creamy dressing. Parmesan cheese – adds its bold cheesy flavor. Lemon juice – brightens things up and adds balance. Anchovy paste – gives the dressing its classic caesar taste – a must in our opinion! Dijon mustard – adds its tangy, sharp taste. Garlic – for its classic pungent taste and a bit of kick. Sea salt + pepper – to enhance the other flavors and help blend everything together.
Adding anchovies to caesar dressing is like adding fish sauce to a Thai curry. You don’t taste it specifically, but it elevates the recipe to a whole new level. If it’s not something you think you’ll use often, don’t worry. An opened tube of anchovy paste lasts for at least a year in your fridge, which is more than enough time for you to make this easy casear dressing a few times! While it pairs naturally well with Italian-inspired mains like our easy baked lasagna, Italian sausage pasta, or summertime easy caprese pizza, it’s also great with chicken and meat dishes. Or simply enjoy it on greens as a lighter lunch. Here are a few other favorite ways to use this easy caesar salad dressing:
In place of the dressing on one of these salads Bacon Kale Caesar Salad Grilled Broccoli Caesar Salad Roasted Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad Italian Pasta Salad Italian Potato Salad As a dip for fresh veggies Spread on a burger bun or sandwich before assembling like our quinoa ranch cauliflower burgers or best bacon sandwich with caramelized onions Drizzled over corn on the cob
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