CAESAR SALAD… A Shortcut

Many are familiar with this salad made from lettuce, bacon and cheese. Some call it the most ordered salad ever. But looking at its history, so many stories were made on where did this originated. Some say in Rome as it was one of Julius Caesar’s favorite dishes. Some would say somewhere in Italy again due to its name Caesar. I first came across this recipe as INSALATA CESARE when I was just an apprentice in a Fine Dining Italian Restaurant.

The truth is, this salad originated in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico when an Italian restaurateur and immigrant named Caesar Cardini opened up a café in the cities mentioned. There he made this world famous salad in 1950.

It is a simple dish made of Romaine Lettuce, Croutons and Parmesan Cheese. What is complicated is the dressing wherein you would need to emulsify eggs with oil and other ingredients such as anchovies, Worcestershire Sauce, Lemon, Garlic, and Mustard.

The original recipe eliminates the anchovies and does not have mustard. But as the year’s passes by, it was furthered developed by chefs and food experts resulting to a list variations and adaptations.

Several types of lettuces are now used but for me Romaine is still the best. As for the dressing, I made some shortcuts. Allow me to share this with you guys. Many might kill me but again, we just want our lives easier and not go through the rigorous process of making this salad. Here is my version of the dressing:

                Mix in a bowl the following according to this order:

        2 cloves Garlic, grated or macerated  

        1 T Prepared Mustard (Dijon would be best)

                                1 T Lemon Juice

                                2 t Worcestershire Sauce

                                2 t Bagoong Balayan

                                1 C Bottled Mayonnaise (Unsweetened)

                                ¼ C Evaporated or Fresh Milk (add more to adjust the consistency)

                                2 t Ground Black Pepper

                                2 T Grated Parmesan Cheese

                                Salt to taste if needed

There you go. Just mix the dressing with your preferred greens, top with croutons and more Parmesan cheese… and of course the bacon.  You can also top with grilled chicken or shrimps, again all depending on how you want to enjoy this classic dish.