Go Back
Homemade Caesar salad with crisp romaine, croutons, and shaved parmesan in a wooden bowl

Cousin Mike's Homemade Caesar Salad

A real Caesar salad with a from-scratch emulsified dressing — egg yolk, garlic, anchovy, and lemon whisked thick and creamy — tossed with cold, crisp romaine and crunchy croutons. No bottled dressing required.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salad
  • 2 hearts romaine lettuce cold, washed, and dried well
  • 2 cups croutons preferably homemade
  • shaved Parmesan for serving
Dressing
  • 1 egg yolk pasteurized, or coddled (see notes)
  • 3 fillets anchovy minced, or 1 tsp anchovy paste
  • 2 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup olive oil or a mild olive-and-neutral blend
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Wash and thoroughly dry the romaine — spin it and pat it — and keep it cold. Wet leaves will not hold dressing and turn the salad watery.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, minced anchovy, grated garlic, Dijon, lemon juice, and Worcestershire until smooth.
  3. Whisking constantly, drizzle in the olive oil in a slow, thin stream so the dressing emulsifies into a thick, creamy base. Whisk in the grated Parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Thin with a teaspoon of water if it is too thick.
  4. Add the cold, dry romaine and toss with just enough dressing to coat the leaves lightly.
  5. Top with croutons, shaved Parmesan, and cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.

Notes

Raw egg: use a pasteurized egg, or coddle the yolk (lower the whole egg into boiling water for 1 minute) for peace of mind; you can also use 1 tablespoon mayonnaise in place of the yolk. Do not skip the anchovy — it is the savory backbone, not a fishy topping. Make the dressing up to 3–4 days ahead and whisk before using. Great alongside Cousin Mike's Penne alla Vodka and Homemade Garlic Bread.