November 30, 2020

Almost Caesar Salad

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Before my taste buds truly experienced the culinary world and all it has to offer, I often went to a restaurant for lunch or dinner and ordered the classic “chicken caesar salad”. On one hand, it can be very bland and boring, but when you get a good one, it just really hits the spot.

Now that I’m no longer a teenager, my salad cravings are usually swayed by goat cheese, berries, or cilantro dressing. Sometimes though, you still need a caesar salad. Like I said, it just hits that spot.

Green Cravings

I don’t know about you, but right after Thanksgiving food I need a bit of a breather. Salads, vegetables, and lighter meals. Just to prepare for all of the Christmas cookies that are coming. This almost caesar salad is one of the easiest ways to achieve that goal.

Many caesar dressings are very heavy and are loaded with all of the things that are really not good for our bodies. Unfortunately, most caesar salad dressings make me feel just blegh. So this time, we are avoiding all of the negativity and going the simple route. This salad can be thrown together in minutes and will leave you feeling refreshed and satisfied.

Details

Romaine is a lettuce that can really get neglected, but it is still a solid choice in my book. This ingredient is a staple for caesar salad. I use one whole head of romaine, or 2-3 romaine hearts depending on the size.

If you prefer the pre-washed bagged lettuce, two should be a good amount. So, you can cut and wash your lettuce if needed, put it in for a little spin cycle and leave it in a bowl while you make the dressing.

For the dressing, juice one large lemon. Put the lemon juice in a small mason jar. Add double the amount of olive oil. So a 1-2 ratio. For example, if you have 1/4 C of lemon juice, add 1/2 C of olive oil. Finely chop one clove of garlic, though this is really up to you and your garlic standards. I am a fan so sometimes I add two unless I have a nice large clove. Raw garlic has great health benefits so this is a good way to add it to your diet! Throw the garlic into the lemon juice/olive oil mixture and shake it up.

Generously pour the dressing onto the lettuce, again, based on your preference. Add the shredded cheese and a little sprinkle of black pepper. You shouldn’t need salt because of the cheese, but if you want to add a little, I won’t tell. Also, if you want to add some croutons to really seal the deal, I won’t be offended.

Enjoy this (mostly) guilt-free almost caesar salad! I hope it brings all the summer crisp and crunch to your plate. Oh, and another great option is to use arugula instead of romaine. Both delicious!