Healthy Dinner Ideas #5
Superior Caesar Salad
Superior Caesar Salad
Caesar salads don’t have to be boring! A Caesar salad is a timeless classic that brings together fresh, crisp romaine lettuce, creamy dressing, and a perfect balance of savory, tangy flavors. This recipe builds on the classic recipe to make your salad even better. Whether you’re looking for a side dish to accompany a meal or a light and satisfying main course, this salad delivers every time. With homemade croutons, expertly cooked chicken and the perfect amount of Parmesan cheese, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering or a simple indulgence for a quiet dinner on warm spring days.
Ingredients
1 Romaine Lettuce (Sometimes called Cos lettuce)
30g parmesan cheese (for grating)
1 cubed ciabatta loaf (or your preferred white bread)
40g cherry tomatoes (optional)
Salt
Black pepper
For the Chicken:
2 chicken breasts
1 clove of garlic
3 tbsp olive oil
For the Dressing:
2 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp dijon mustard
2 anchovies
Notes
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time (chicken): 30 minutes
- Serves: 2
This recipe is great for using up leftover roast chicken for a light lunch or dinner the day after.
Add A Little Interest
Feel free to add in extra salad veggies to this recipe, and they will go well with the sharp garlic dressing. You can add in some chopped cherry tomatoes for variation and extra vitamins and nutrition, or any leftover salad veggies that need to be used up.
Adding the spoonful of mustard to the dressing gives it a little more punch and adds to the tangy flavor, but if you’re not a mustard fan, you can try adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce instead.
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200C
- Dice the ciabatta loaf and spread over a baking tray, and sprinkle with olive oil ad a pinch of salt and pepper, and bake for 10 minutes. (Give the bread a shake half way through so they brown evenly).
- Lightly score your chicken breasts and rub with olive oil, garlic and pepper. Place in a hot frying pan with 1tbsp of olive oil and fry for 4 minutes, turn the chicken over, and fry the other side for a further 4 minutes.
- For the dressing, mix together the anchovies, garlic, mayonnaise, 30g parmesan, mustard and white wine vinegar in a bowl, mashing the anchovies against the side if the bowl with a fork or the back of a spoon.
- Chop or tear the lettuce and put in a large bowl.
- Slice the chicken into small pieces and add to the lettuce, along with the croutons and some grated parmesan.
- Pour the dressing over the lettuce, mix well so it’s all coated, and serve straight away.
Time To Enjoy
There you have it—a delicious, fresh Caesar salad that’s as easy to make as it is irresistible! With its crunchy texture, creamy dressing, and savory notes of garlic and cheese, this salad is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Don’t be afraid to add in some seasonal veg for a new twist on this classic recipe, it makes a great meal in the spring and summer!
