Cucumber Caesar Salad (Print Version)
Crisp cucumbers meet classic Caesar flavors with homemade dressing and golden croutons.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 large English cucumbers, sliced into half-moons
02 - 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
03 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
→ Croutons
04 - 2 cups bread cubes, preferably day-old baguette or sourdough
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1/4 tsp sea salt
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Caesar Dressing
08 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
11 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, vegetarian version if needed
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
15 - 1/4 tsp sea salt
→ Garnish
16 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
17 - Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss bread cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, black pepper, and salt. Continue whisking until the mixture is completely smooth and emulsified.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine the sliced English cucumbers, chopped romaine lettuce, and thinly sliced red onion if using. Toss gently to distribute the vegetables evenly.
04 - Drizzle the prepared Caesar dressing over the vegetable mixture. Use salad tongs to toss gently, ensuring all ingredients are lightly coated without bruising the greens.
05 - Add the cooled homemade croutons to the dressed salad and toss lightly to combine. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese and additional freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately to maintain crouton crunch.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cucumber adds this incredible refreshing quality that keeps the salad from feeling too heavy or rich
- You can have everything on the table in twenty minutes flat including homemade croutons
02 -
- The dressing tastes better after it sits for at least 15 minutes so the garlic can mellow out and meld with everything
- Do not dress this salad more than 30 minutes before serving or the cucumbers will release water and make everything soggy
03 -
- English cucumbers really do make a difference here because regular cucumbers have thicker skins and more seeds
- Grate your Parmesan fresh from a block because the flavor is exponentially better than anything pre grated