Homemade Croutons and Caesar Salad Dressing

We are having our good friends, Bud and Betty Rae, for dinner Friday night and caesar salad is on the menu.  It has been a few months since I prepared my recipe for homemade croutons and caesar salad dressing as a caesar salad isn’t exactly a low-fat type salad.  But these are special friends and I know they like caesar salad. 

Caesar salad is also a family favorite and our three grandsons, Joshua, Aidan and Travis are always happy to see it on the table.  I have good memories of seeing them sneak out the crunchy croutons and devouring them. 

I have half a loaf of bread that is a little stale and it will be perfect for making croutons and actually is probably more cost effective than buying them ready-made.   There isn’t much to making your own croutons, just cut or tear the bread into pieces, toss with olive oil and toast them in the oven until golden. 

I know that traditional and original caesar salad dressing has raw or coddled eggs added as it is the fat in the eggs that adheres the dressing to the lettuce.  I have an aversion to eating uncooked eggs and I substitute a couple egg yolk-size dollops of mayo and it does the same thing.  Of course, I could use some of those Safe Eggs that are pasteurized but so far, I continue with the mayo.  This is a creamy salad dressing with a little garlic, parmesan cheese and a nice tang from the lemon.  I usually add a couple smashed anchovies to the dressing and it adds another layer of flavor but is not a ‘fishy’ flavor, it just blends in and improves the taste. 

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Homemade Croutons and Caesar Salad Dressing

Yield: 2 cups dressing

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This recipe for homemade croutons and caesar salad dressing is easy to prepare and can be made in advance. All that is needed for a great caesar salad is the torn romaine lettuce

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Ingredients

• Preheat the oven to 400°F

For the Croutons:

• 3-4 slices stale white or sourdough bread, cut or torn into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

For the Caesar Salad Dressing:

• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium anchovies, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard (hot dog type)
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2-3 tablespoons real mayonnaise
• 1/2-3/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a medium-size shallow bowl, add the garlic, anchovies and salt then, using a fork, mash them together to make a paste. Add the lemon juice, both mustards and the Worcestershire sauce whisking together to blend. Add in the olive oil, mayonnaise and parmesan cheese and pepper whisking until completely combined.

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